adjective
fastidious
fa-STID-ee-us/fæˈstɪdiəs/
Very careful about meeting high standards.
The fastidious host inspects a glass for fingerprints.
Etymology
Latin fastidium meant aversion or excessive nicety, an attitude that could make someone squeamish and hard to please. This developed into meticulous concern for details and cleanliness; the noun’s deeper origin is uncertain.
In context
Roman wine carter is fastidious. It is not long since he used to bring his own solid silver spoon and fork with him, and he will generally rinse a glass out two or three times before he will drink
More examples
- The editor's fastidious attention catches every small inconsistency.
- He is too fastidious to accept a carelessly finished surface.
- The chef keeps the kitchen in fastidious order.
Forms
fastidious · more fastidious · most fastidious
Similar words
- meticulous
- Meticulous stresses great care with detail; fastidious can also suggest exacting tastes or cleanliness.
- fussy
- Fussy can suggest unreasonable concern over details; fastidious often conveys exacting personal standards.