pundit

American  

[puhn-dit] / ˈpʌn dɪt /

noun

1. a learned person, expert, or authority.

   This pundit's formal instruction in history, philosophy, and political science prepared her for activism in many campaigns.

   Synonyms:

   savant, guru, sage

2. a person who makes comments or judgments, especially in an authoritative manner; critic or commentator.

   Opinions masquerade as news, while ill-informed pundits and vested interests cloud the issues and bend the truth into pretzels.

3. pandit.

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pundit British  

/ ˈpʌndɪt /

noun

1. an expert

2. (formerly) a learned person

3. Also called: pandit.  a Brahman learned in Sanskrit and, esp in Hindu religion, philosophy or law

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Pronunciation

See tenet ( def. ).

Other Word Forms

• punditic adjective
• punditically adverb

Etymology

Origin of pundit

First recorded in 1665–75; from Hindi paṇḍit, from Sanskrit paṇḍita “learned man” (noun), “learned” (adjective); of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to prajñā́ “knowledge” ( pro ¹ ( def. ), know ¹ ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Last year, former Manchester City captain Joey Barton was found guilty of sending "grossly offensive" social media posts about her and fellow pundit Lucy Ward.

From BBC

Those are big words from a player and pundit of Zola's stature, and O'Neill echoed those thoughts.

From BBC

"There will be other clubs looking at him because everything good about Fulham comes through Harry Wilson," said Match of the Day pundit Wayne Rooney following Wilson's weekend goal against Burnley.

From BBC

It falls to Mr. Mead and his fellow pundits to make the case to the American people and to our allies abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal

And we pundits, chastened by having been burned, are reluctant to get too far out over our skis.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buff
• cognoscenti
• expert
• intellectual
• philosopher
• professor
• scholar
• thinker