strict

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (“to draw tight, bind, contract”). See stringent, strain.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /stɹɪkt/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪkt

Adjective

strict (comparative stricter, superlative strictest)

  1. Strained; drawn close; tight.
    strict embrace
    strict ligature
  2. Tense; not relaxed.
    strict fiber
  3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice.
    to keep strict watch
    to pay strict attention
  4. Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous.
    • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Hocussing of Cigarette‎:
      No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.
    very strict in observing the Sabbath
  5. Rigidly interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted.
    to understand words in a strict sense
  6. (botany) Upright, or straight and narrow; — said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.
  7. Severe in discipline.
    Our teacher was always very strict. If we didn't behave, we would get punished.
    It was a very strict lesson.
  8. (set theory, order theory) Irreflexive; if the described object is defined to be reflexive, that condition is overridden and replaced with irreflexive.

Usage notes
  • Stricter and strictest are the grammatically correct forms for the comparative and superlative though outside UK more strict and most strict are more often used.

Antonyms
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Derived terms

Translations
irreflexive — see irreflexive
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

Further reading
  • strict in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
  • strict in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin strictus, perfect participle of stringere (“to draw tight, bind, contract”). Doublet of étroit.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /stʁikt/
  • audio(file)

Adjective

strict (feminine singular stricte, masculine plural stricts, feminine plural strictes)

  1. strict

Derived terms

Further reading
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