critic
B2Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A person whose job is to judge the merits of books, films, music, etc., and express their opinion publicly.
A person who expresses strong disapproval of or points out the faults of someone or something; a fault-finder.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning is professional and evaluative, often associated with the arts. The extended meaning has a more negative connotation of habitual fault-finding. The word's valence depends heavily on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The verb 'to critique' is more commonly accepted and used in American English, while British English traditionally preferred 'to review' or 'to criticise'.
Connotations
Slightly stronger negative connotation in the general 'fault-finder' sense in British English, where 'critic' can more readily imply a carping or unconstructive attitude compared to 'reviewer'.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
critic of [something]critic for [a publication]critic who [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “armchair critic”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A 'stern critic of the new policy' argues against its financial viability.
Academic
A 'leading critic of postmodern theory' published a seminal rebuttal.
Everyday
My brother is my harshest critic when I try cooking something new.
Technical
In software development, a 'code critic' reviews others' work for bugs and style issues.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The verb form is 'criticise'.
- He was quick to criticise the government's handling of the crisis.
American English
- The verb forms are 'criticize' or 'critique'.
- She took the time to critique the manuscript thoroughly before the workshop.
adverb
British English
- The adverbial form is 'critically'.
- He looked at the proposal critically before giving his answer.
American English
- The adverbial form is 'critically'.
- The film was critically panned but was a huge box-office success.
adjective
British English
- The adjectival form is 'critical'.
- Her critical analysis of the novel was published in a major journal.
American English
- The adjectival form is 'critical'.
- The play received critical acclaim from all the major newspapers.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The film critic liked the new movie.
- She is a food critic for a magazine.
- Although he was a harsh critic of the plan, he offered some useful suggestions.
- The restaurant critic's review convinced us to book a table.
- As a prominent critic of the government's economic policy, she is frequently interviewed on news programmes.
- The author was stung by the critic's accusation that her characters were one-dimensional.
- The architectural critic lambasted the new city hall building as a 'monstrous affront to civic dignity'.
- While ostensibly a critic of corporate power, his investments often belied his rhetoric.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A CRITIC writes a CRITIQUE; both start with CRIT- and involve judgement.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CRITIC IS A JUDGE (weighing evidence, delivering a verdict). A CRITIC IS A FILTER (separating the good from the bad).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'critic' (/ˈkrɪtɪk/) with 'critique' (/krɪˈtiːk/). The first is a person, the second is the act or a detailed analysis. The Russian word 'критик' maps directly to 'critic'.
- Avoid directly translating the Russian phrase 'подвергнуть критике' as 'subject to a critic'. The correct English is 'subject to criticism' or 'criticise'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'critic' as a verb (e.g., 'He critics the film'). Correct: 'He criticises the film' or 'He is a critic of the film'.
- Confusing 'critic' (person) with 'criticism' (the act or content of judging).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'critic' carry the LEAST negative connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'reviewer' often gives a descriptive summary and recommendation (common for products, services). A 'critic' implies a deeper, more analytical, and authoritative evaluation, often within an artistic or intellectual field. All critics are reviewers, but not all reviewers are considered critics.
Yes, in its core professional sense. A 'respected critic' or 'acclaimed critic' is a positive designation, indicating expertise and trusted judgement. The negative connotation arises from the 'fault-finder' sense.
The main verb is 'to criticise' (UK) / 'to criticize' (US), meaning to indicate faults. 'To critique' (more common in US English) means to analyse and evaluate in detail, which can include both positive and negative aspects.
Yes, it is a derogatory term for someone who offers opinions or criticisms (especially on complex issues) without having direct experience, expertise, or responsibility for the matter.