critic

UK: /ˈkrɪtɪk/ US: /ˈkrɪtɪk/ ,(krit′ik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

crit•ic /ˈkrɪtɪk/   n. [countable]

1. a person who judges or criticizes:
   critics of the political scene.
2. a person who evaluates written or artistic works, dramatic performances, etc., as for a newspaper:
   a film critic.
3. a person who tends to find fault or make harsh judgments:
   Your critics will always find a reason to blame you.

Related Words

critic is a noun, critical is an adjective, criticism is a noun, criticize is a verb:
He is a harsh critic of the president. He is very critical of the president. His criticism of the president was very strong. He enjoys criticizing the president.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crit•ic  (krit′ik), n. 

1. a person who judges, evaluates, or criticizes:
   a poor critic of men.
2. a person who judges, evaluates, or analyzes literary or artistic works, dramatic or musical performances, or the like, esp. for a newspaper or magazine.
3. a person who tends too readily to make captious, trivial, or harsh judgments;
   faultfinder.
4. [Archaic.]
   • criticism.
   • critique.

• Greek kritikós skilled in judging (adjective, adjectival), critic (noun, nominal), equivalent. to krí̄t(ēs) judge, umpire (krí̄(nein) to separate, decide + -tēs agent suffix) + -ikos -ic
• Latin criticus
• 1575–85

Synonyms

• 2. reviewer, judge.
• 3. censurer, carper.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

critic / ˈkrɪtɪk/ noun

1. a person who judges something
2. a professional judge of art, music, literature, etc
3. a person who often finds fault and criticizes

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos capable of judging, from kritēs judge; see criterion