strict
Americanadjective
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characterized by or acting in close conformity to requirements or principles.
a strict observance of rituals.
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stringent or exacting in or in enforcing rules, requirements, obligations, etc..
strict laws; a strict judge.
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closely or rigorously enforced or maintained.
strict silence.
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exact or precise.
a strict statement of facts.
- Synonyms:
- scrupulous, accurate
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extremely defined or conservative; narrowly or carefully limited.
a strict construction of the Constitution.
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close, careful, or minute.
a strict search.
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absolute, perfect, or complete; utmost.
told in strict confidence.
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stern; severe; austere.
strict parents.
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Obsolete. drawn tight or close.
adjective
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adhering closely to specified rules, ordinances, etc
a strict faith
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complied with or enforced stringently; rigorous
a strict code of conduct
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severely correct in attention to rules of conduct or morality
a strict teacher
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(of a punishment, etc) harsh; severe
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(prenominal) complete; absolute
in strict secrecy
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logic maths
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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
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distinguished from a relation of the same name that is not the subject of formal study
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rare botany very straight, narrow, and upright
strict panicles
Related Words
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
- overstrict adjective
- strictly adverb
- strictness noun
- superstrict adjective
- superstrictly adverb
- superstrictness noun
- unstrict adjective
- unstrictly adverb
- unstrictness noun
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
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.
Superata said that fewer young Japanese want a life that demands huge discipline and comes with a strict practise schedule.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
This kind of “viewpoint discrimination,” Gorsuch concluded, is “presumptively unconstitutional,” and must survive strict scrutiny, meaning it is “narrowly tailored to serve compelling state interests.”
From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026
“Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Criticism of the government is illegal in the UAE, and it exercises strict control over the flow information out of the country.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
In a manual of general principles and rules that served as a blueprint for the industry, Pinkerton admitted that the detective must at times “depart from the strict line of truth” and “resort to deception.”
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
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.
