1 punctilio | Definition of punctilio
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

punctilio

noun
punc·​til·​io | \ ˌpəŋk-ˈti-lē-ˌō How to pronounce punctilio (audio) \
plural punctilios

Definition of punctilio

1 : a minute detail of conduct in a ceremony or in observance of a code
2 : careful observance of forms (as in social conduct)

How Should You Use punctilio?

We'll get straight to the point: there are a number of English words that come from Latin pungere, meaning "to prick" or "to sting." "Punctilio" is one of these words. It traces back to "pungere" by way of Italian puntiglio (meaning "small point," "point of honor," or "scruple"), Spanish puntillo (the diminutive of punto, meaning "point"), and Latin punctum (also meaning "point"). The adjective punctilious, meaning "marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions, is a close relative of "punctilio." Do you have any guesses for other "pungere" derivatives? "Punctuate," "puncture," "compunction," "punctual," and "pungent" are some of the more common ones.

First Known Use of punctilio

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for punctilio

Italian & Spanish; Italian puntiglio point of honor, scruple, from Spanish puntillo, from diminutive of punto point, from Latin punctum

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on punctilio

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with punctilio

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!