pedantic (adj) - unimaginative, dogmatic, or condescending; overly detailed, dry, or fixated on trivialities or formalities [puh-dan-tik]
BREAKDOWN: PED- (child) + -ANT (one who [teaches]) + -IC (like)
pedant is someone who focuses on displaying learning or knowledge to an excessive or inappropriate degree; a stickler or nitpicker
pedantry is an excessive or annoying concern with minor details or technical correctness
See also: pedagogy
“Why is it that the less one has to say the more one says it in the most pompous and pedantic way possible?... Is it to fool the world or just to fool themselves?” —Carlos Ruiz Zafon
