Etymologically
Log in

criticism

Etymology and origin of the English word criticism

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1607
Ultimate origin
English (critic,-ism)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈkrɪt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/, US /ˈkrɪt̬.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English critic + -ism,[2][3] or from Latin criticus and -ism.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The action of judging the qualities or merits of something, especially finding fault: 1607 in the OED and MWU, about 1600 in Etymonline.[5][3][2]

Semantic evolution

A critical remark or essay is from 1608.[5] The study of the text, origin and authenticity of a writing, the sense of higher criticism, is from the 1660s (1669 in the OED),[2][5] and the art of judging literary or artistic works from the 1670s (1674 in the OED).[2][5] Dryden wrote in 1677 that those who think the business of criticism is “principally to find fault” mistake its nature.[2] In philosophy, Kant's critical philosophy was called criticism from 1867.[5]

Timeline

  • 1607 – the act of judging.[5][3]
  • 1608 – a critical remark.[5]
  • 1669 – textual criticism.[5]
  • 1674 – literary and artistic criticism.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The act of saying what is wrong with someone or something; disapproval.
  2. A remark that points out a fault.
  3. The study and judgement of the qualities of literature, art or music.
  4. The study of the origin and history of texts.

Word family

  • overcriticism
  • countercriticism
  • hypercriticism
  • oneirocriticism
  • self-criticism
  • form criticism
  • higher criticism
  • lower criticism
  • critic
  • criticise
  • critical
  • critique
  • criterion

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Criticism.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/criticism. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·