strict
Americanadjective
-
stricter,
comparative
-
strictest
superlative
-
characterized by or acting in close conformity to requirements or principles.
a strict observance of rituals.
-
stringent or exacting in or in enforcing rules, requirements, obligations, etc..
strict laws; a strict judge.
-
closely or rigorously enforced or maintained.
strict silence.
-
exact or precise.
a strict statement of facts.
- Synonyms:
- scrupulous, accurate
-
extremely defined or conservative; narrowly or carefully limited.
a strict construction of the Constitution.
-
close, careful, or minute.
a strict search.
-
absolute, perfect, or complete; utmost.
told in strict confidence.
-
stern; severe; austere.
strict parents.
-
Obsolete. drawn tight or close.
adjective
-
adhering closely to specified rules, ordinances, etc
a strict faith
-
complied with or enforced stringently; rigorous
a strict code of conduct
-
severely correct in attention to rules of conduct or morality
a strict teacher
-
(of a punishment, etc) harsh; severe
-
(prenominal) complete; absolute
in strict secrecy
-
logic maths
-
applying more narrowly than some other relation often given the same name, as strict inclusion, which holds only between pairs of sets that are distinct, while simple inclusion permits the case in which they are identical See also proper ordering
-
distinguished from a relation of the same name that is not the subject of formal study
-
-
rare botany very straight, narrow, and upright
strict panicles
Synonym Usage
Strict, rigid, rigorous, stringent imply inflexibility, severity, and an exacting quality. Strict implies great exactness, especially in the observance or enforcement of rules: strict discipline. Rigid, literally stiff or unbending, applies to that which is (often unnecessarily or narrowly) inflexible: rigid economy. Rigorous, with the same literal meaning, applies to that which is severe, exacting, and uncompromising, especially in action or application: rigorous self-denial. Stringent applies to that which is vigorously exacting and severe: stringent measures to suppress disorder.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
strictnessnoun
-
superstrictnessnoun
-
unstrictnessnoun
-
overstrictadjective
-
superstrictadjective
-
unstrictadjective
-
strictlyadverb
-
superstrictlyadverb
-
unstrictlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of strict
First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin strictus, equivalent to strig-, variant stem of stringere “to draw tight” + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
Strict describes someone who sticks to a particular set of rules. If your math teacher is strict, it means that she expects her rules to be followed to the letter. The adjective strict always has to do with rules. Your strict parents enforced rules and expected you to obey them. Your cousin might be a strict vegetarian who always follows her own rules about what to eat. Strict laws demand to be followed, and a strict follower of the First Amendment supports free speech no matter what. The Latin root of strict is strictus, which means "drawn together, tight, or rigid." A rigid adherence to rules is exactly what makes someone strict.
Vocabulary lists containing strict
Tears of a Tiger
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Kids Like Me: Voices of the Immigrant Experience"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Some argue that there needs to be more consistency to avoid big swings between strict content moderation and free-for-all speech.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026
All three companies told the BBC they had strict guidelines on how AI could be used on their websites and have since taken the images down.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
"Cases of abuse must be investigated, we must be strict, all of this must be stopped," 71-year-old pilgrim Irma Grimaldo said after the pope's speech.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026
“It’s an encouraging message: small, nutrient-dense additions—like incorporating avocado and mango into meals and snacks—may support heart health without the need for strict rules or major dietary overhauls.”
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
Historically, there have been strict rules when it comes to lepers.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Wojcieszak’s research showed that Meta’s stricter moderation before the 2020 election reduced misinformation exposure by 72%.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026
Lee, from Plymouth, died weeks after he complained publicly about the school's introduction of stricter rules about being on time for lessons.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
Newly elected Texas politicians are also unlikely to change oil and gas policies, he said, with the exception of potentially stricter rules on flaring and venting for natural gas, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
The prospect of stricter regulation was weighing on stocks in AI heavyweights such as Elon Musk's SpaceX ahead of the US markets open, after drops for key chipmakers in Asia including Samsung in South Korea.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
The regime had become stricter and more sophisticated.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Then—and I’m telling you this in strictest confidence—Wiatt’s days are numbered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
They also contended it included the nation’s strictest data privacy protections and noted how participation would be voluntary, similar to how it is offered in other states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Prime Minister Sharif called for an investigation and said that the "strictest possible action" should be taken against those found to be responsible.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
The Snowdrop campaign that followed led to the UK enforcing some of the strictest firearms legislation in the world.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Don Apolinar Moscote explained to him, in strictest confidence, that the soldiers had taken the weapons off as proof that the Liberals were preparing for war.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
