strict

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /stɹɪkt/ See IPA manual

Freq #5055

Meanings

1

adj
Demanding that rules are obeyed and not allowing bad behavior.

Our teacher was very strict and punished anyone who misbehaved.
2

adj
Exact and clearly defined, with no room for change.

The factory follows strict safety rules at all times.
3

adj
Understood in an exact, narrow sense.

In the strict sense of the word, a tomato is a fruit.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · exact and clearly defined,... rigidhard-and-fast

3 adj · understood in an exact,... narrow proper

Word family

Forms stricterstricteststrictness

Derived forms non-strictoverstrictsemistrictstrictenstrictishstrictlystrictnesssuperstrictultrastrictunstrict

Related forms strain stricture stringent

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

strict control
firm, rigorous supervision or authority, allowing little deviation

Adjective + noun
strict law
a law that allows very little flexibility and is firmly enforced

Adjective + noun
strict rule
a rule that must be followed rigidly and without exception

Adjective + noun
strict vegetarian
a person who consistently follows a diet excluding meat and fish

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Strict entered English in the late Middle English period from Latin strictus, based on stringere, “to tighten” or “draw tight.” It first meant “restricted in space or extent”; the sense “imposing severe discipline” developed in the late 16th century.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (“to draw tight, bind, contract”). Doublet of strait and stretto. See stringent, strain. Related to strong.

*streyg- Proto-Indo-European strictus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# strict

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /stɹɪkt/
**Frequency rank:** 5055

## Meanings
1. Demanding that rules are obeyed and not allowing bad behavior.
2. Exact and clearly defined, with no room for change.
3. Understood in an exact, narrow sense.

## Examples
- Our teacher was very strict and punished anyone who misbehaved.
- The factory follows strict safety rules at all times.
- In the strict sense of the word, a tomato is a fruit.

## Derived Forms
- non-strict
- overstrict
- semistrict
- stricten
- strictish
- strictly
- strictness
- superstrict
- ultrastrict
- unstrict

## Related Forms
- strain
- stricture
- stringent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *streyg-
- Root: strictus

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (“to draw tight, bind, contract”). Doublet of strait and stretto. See stringent, strain. Related to strong.

## AI Etymology
Strict is borrowed from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (“to draw tight, bind, contract”). Doublet of strait and stretto. See stringent, strain. Related to strong. In present-day use, it can mean demanding that rules are obeyed and not allowing bad behavior, or exact and clearly defined, with no room for change. Derived formations include non-strict, overstrict, semistrict, stricten, strictish.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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