Puritanism

[pyoo r-i-tn-iz-uh m] /ˈpyʊər ɪ tnˌɪz əm/
noun
1.
the principles and practices of the Puritans.
2.
(sometimes lowercase) extreme strictness in moral or religious matters, often to excess; rigid austerity.
Origin
1565-75; Puritan + -ism
Related forms
anti-Puritanism, noun
Examples from the web for Puritanism
  • Puritanism movement to cleanse episcopalianism of any ritualistic aspects.
Word Origin and History for Puritanism
n.

1570s, from Puritan + -ism. Originally in reference to specific doctrines; from 1590s of excessive moral strictness generally. In this sense, famously defined by H.L. Mencken (1920) as "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy."