How Do You Spell PERSNICKETY?

Pronunciation: [pˈɜːsnɪkɪti] (IPA)

Persnickety is a word that describes someone who is overly fussy and particular. The spelling of this word may seem tricky, but it can be broken down phonetically as /pərˈsnɪkəti/. The first syllable is pronounced as "per" with a schwa sound, followed by "snick" with a short "i" sound, and ending with "ety" pronounced as "uh-tee". This word derives from an alteration of "pernickety," which was first used in the 19th century and is still commonly used today.

PERSNICKETY Meaning and Definition

1. Persnickety is an adjective that describes someone who is excessively fussy, particular, or meticulous about details. It is often used to depict individuals who have an overly fastidious or nitpicking attitude towards things. They display a strong inclination for precision and perfection and tend to take great care in matters that may seem trivial or insignificant to others.

   A persnickety person can be overly concerned with minuscule details, often fixating on matters that may not be important or relevant to the task at hand. They may scrutinize every minor aspect and voice their dissatisfaction or disapproval when things do not meet their high standards. This description can apply to both individuals and situations. For instance, a persnickety chef may be highly critical of the smallest imperfections in the presentation of a dish, while a persnickety homeowner may become excessively meticulous about the organization or cleanliness of their living space.

   The term persnickety is usually used in a slightly negative or humorous sense to imply a level of excessive fussiness or pickiness. It conveys a sense of annoyance or frustration towards individuals who excessively focus on unnecessary details, often causing delays or complications. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that being persnickety can also be attributed to someone who values precision and quality, in certain contexts.

Top Common Misspellings for PERSNICKETY *

• persnickity 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for PERSNICKETY

• pernickity
• persnikety
• oersnickety
• lersnickety
• -ersnickety
• 0ersnickety
• pwrsnickety
• psrsnickety
• pdrsnickety
• prrsnickety
• p4rsnickety
• p3rsnickety
• parnickity
• persnickete

Etymology of PERSNICKETY

The word "persnickety" is believed to have originated in the United States, specifically in the early 20th century. Its precise etymology, however, remains uncertain. There are a few possible theories about its origin:

- One theory suggests that "persnickety" is derived from the Scottish word "pernickety", which means "meticulous" or "fussy". Scottish and Irish immigrants might have brought this term to the United States, where it gradually transformed into "persnickety".

- Another theory proposes that "persnickety" is a combination of the words "particular" and "snickety". "Particular" refers to being attentive to detail or having specific requirements, while "snickety" means overly fussy or picky. The blending of these words could have led to the creation of "persnickety".

Similar spelling words for PERSNICKETY

• personalty,
• persoonia.