pundit
Americannoun
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a learned person, expert, or authority.
This pundit's formal instruction in history, philosophy, and political science prepared her for activism in many campaigns.
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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.
noun
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an expert
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(formerly) a learned person
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Also called: pandit. a Brahman learned in Sanskrit and, esp in Hindu religion, philosophy or law
Pronunciation
See tenet ( def. ).
Other Word Forms
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” ( see also pro 1 ( def. ), know 1 ( def. ))
Explanation
A pundit is a well-known expert, someone whose opinions show up on television, online, or in the newspaper. Some TV news programs are nothing more than a bunch of pundits arguing about current events. Why not just call them experts? Because pundit is a lovely word that is very close to its Sanskrit root, payndita-s, "learned man or scholar." Originally, a pundit was a "learned Hindu" or Sanskrit expert. Today's classic examples of the pundit are guests on talk radio and professional sports commentators, all brilliant dispensers of insights, statistics, and occasional hot air.
Vocabulary lists containing pundit
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English Words Derived from Hindi
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One hears very little of the then-prevalent chatter, coming mostly from the pundit class, about institutional “guardrails.”
From Salon • May 18, 2026
One will be at the World Cup as the undisputed number one, the other will be there as a pundit.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Navarro has been pounding at Trump for so long, it’s hard to remember that her rise as a TV pundit began 14 years ago when she was a loyal conservative Republican.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
BBC Sport pundit and former England captain Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, has predicted on his BBC podcast Arsenal will win all of their remaining league games and lift the title.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
The Gillian addressing the crowd was styled and polished like a TV pundit.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
