strait-laced

American  

[streyt-leyst] / ˈstreɪtˈleɪst /

Or straight-laced

adjective

1. excessively strict in conduct or morality; puritanical; prudish.

   strait-laced censors.

2. tightly laced, as a bodice.

3. wearing tightly laced garments.

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strait-laced British  

adjective

1. prudish or puritanical

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Other Word Forms

• strait-lacedness
  noun
• strait-lacedly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of strait-laced

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Explanation

To be strait-laced is to be extremely strict and uptight. Your strait-laced cousin won't be interested in joining the rest of your family in an impromptu dance party. If you know anyone who's extremely prim and proper, you can describe them as strait-laced. This adjective originally described overly tight clothing, particularly women's stays or bodices. The now obsolete adjective strait meant "narrow or cramped" or "strict," but because it's become unfamiliar today, strait-laced can also be spelled straight-laced.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

strait-laced

"Next to the vomiting, gurning, maniacally grinning Keaton, she can’t help but seem a little bland and strait-laced."

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2024

Last year, they were the strait-laced girl who had detailed notes, flash cards and pens for the borrowing; this year, the burnout who shows up at the end and aces the final?

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2023

You’ve seen a lot of strait-laced overachievers learn to lighten up and cut loose on-screen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2023

On several occasions, CNN’s strait-laced daytime shows, airing at off-hours like noon and 1 p.m., garnered bigger audiences than the new nighttime offerings.

From New York Times ● Mar. 17, 2023

It seemed more sedate than I remembered it, more perpendicular and strait-laced, with narrower windows and shinier woodwork, as though a coat of varnish had been put over everything for better preservation.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles