Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A member of a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 BCE–70 CE). The movement was ultimately the basis for most contemporary forms of Judaism.
  • noun idiomatic A person who values the letter of the law over the spirit or intention of the law.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Hebrew פרושים (prushim) from פרוש (parush), meaning a "detached" one, a separatist, or one who is separated for a life of purity.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Pharisee.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.