Punctilio

Punctilio

ˌpəNG(k)ˈtilēō

Noun

  • A fine or petty point of conduct or procedure.

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Example Sentences

“The level of punctilio in the graduation ceremony was overbearing.”

“Pedro had a knack for remembering the punctilio of military dress codes.”

“Debutante balls are rife with all sorts of punctilio.”

Word Origin

Italian, late 16th century

Why this word?

This word comes from the Spanish “puntillo,” the diminutive of “punto,” meaning “a point,” but it originally stems from the Latin “punctum” (“a point”). In English, “punctilio” means “a petty point of procedure,” but if you’re inundated with them, the plural is “punctilios.” In the “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books and Netflix show, the newspaper “The Daily Punctilio” offers a “simplified and often incorrect” take on the world surrounding its readers, according to narrator Lemony Snicket. The paper’s motto, “All the News in Fits of Print,” is a play on the well-known tagline of “The New York Times.”

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ˌlēTHəˈläjəkə