Punctilious
[punk-TIL-ee-uhs]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Latin, early 17th century
1.
Concerned with strict adherence to rules and codes of conduct
2.
Precise or nitpicky
Examples of Punctilious in a sentence
"With his punctilious nature, he was sure to do well in the Army."
"She was so punctilious about organizing her pantry that every shelf had a label."
About Punctilious
You might relate this word to punctual, and you’d be correct. Punctuality specifically concerns accuracy with time, but being punctilious can apply to any situation that concerns small and specific details.
Did you Know?
The adjective "punctilious" comes from the noun "punctilio," meaning a fine point or detail. Being overly concerned with specific rules and procedures will earn you the reputation of being punctilious.