Puritanism
Americannoun
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the principles and practices of the Puritans.
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(sometimes lowercase) extreme strictness in moral or religious matters, often to excess; rigid austerity.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Puritanism
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.
Puritanism, by contrast, was born in rebellion against the Church of England and the “divine right” claimed by the king.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
Puritanism shattered into multiple feuding sects and collapsed, and 18th century Enlightenment values of cosmopolitan secular government were ushered in.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2025
He might have vanished into Boston history were it not for the British, who spectacularly and catastrophically failed to understand what made Massachusetts citizens, forged by an independent version of Puritanism, tick.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 4, 2022
The Pilgrims who initially arrived in Plymouth practiced an extreme form of Puritanism that broke with the Church of England.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 2, 2022
The general adoption of pews began with Puritanism, and with its increase they too grew in width and stature.
From Stones of the Temple Lessons from the Fabric and Furniture of the Church by Walter Field
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