critic

American  

[krit-ik] / ˈkrɪt ɪk /

noun

1. a person who judges, evaluates, or criticizes.

   a poor critic of men.

2. a person who judges, evaluates, or analyzes literary or artistic works, dramatic or musical performances, or the like, especially for a newspaper or magazine.

   Synonyms:

   judge, reviewer

3. a person who tends too readily to make captious, trivial, or harsh judgments; faultfinder.

   Synonyms:

   carper, censurer

4. Archaic.

   1. criticism.

   2. critique.

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critic British  

/ ˈkrɪtɪk /

noun

1. a person who judges something

2. a professional judge of art, music, literature, etc

3. a person who often finds fault and criticizes

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Other Word Forms

• supercritic noun

Etymology

Origin of critic

1575–85; < Latin criticus < Greek kritikós skilled in judging (adj.), critic (noun), equivalent to krī́t ( ēs ) judge, umpire ( krī́ ( nein ) to separate, decide + -tēs agent suffix) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

But critics later said the French healthspan may have more to do with factors like walking regularly and eating smaller portions.

From MarketWatch

She was an artful, innovative interpreter of other people’s songs, in the vein of Frank Sinatra, in an era when audiences—and especially critics—were exalting the singer-songwriter model instead.

From The Wall Street Journal

U.S. lawmakers have warned the U.K. that China could use the embassy to step up espionage and harassment of critics abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the slow, partial release, saying that critics “don’t want us to protect victims.”

From Salon

With a major role in Josh Safdie’s madcap ping-pong riot, “Marty Supreme,” Paltrow is rounding out the year with a bang, earning her last laugh against gossip hounds and Goop critics.

From Salon

Related Words

• authority
• cartoonist
• commentator
• expert
• judge
• pundit
• reviewer