Criticism
/ˈkrɪt.ɪ.sɪz.əm/noun
The act of analyzing, evaluating, or expressing disapproval of something.
Did you know?Criticism shares its ancient Greek root with “crisis” and “criterion,” linking judgment, decisive turning points, and standards of evaluation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*krei-
“To separate, distinguish, or sift apart”
Ancient Greek
Greek
krinein
“To separate, decide, judge, or determine”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kritikos
“Able to discern or judge”
Late Antiquity
Latin
criticus
“A critic or judge of literary or scholarly works”
16th Century
French
critique
“Critical judgment or evaluation”
17th Century
English
criticism
“The practice of judging or evaluating literary and artistic works”
Modern English
English
criticism
“Analysis, evaluation, or disapproval of something”
Explore more surprising origins