strict

[strikt] /strɪkt/
adjective, stricter, strictest.
1.
characterized by or acting in close conformity to requirements or principles:
a strict observance of rituals.
2.
stringent or exacting in or in enforcing rules, requirements, obligations, etc.:
strict laws; a strict judge.
3.
closely or rigorously enforced or maintained:
strict silence.
4.
exact or precise:
a strict statement of facts.
5.
extremely defined or conservative; narrowly or carefully limited:
a strict construction of the Constitution.
6.
close, careful, or minute:
a strict search.
7.
absolute, perfect, or complete; utmost:
told in strict confidence.
8.
stern; severe; austere:
strict parents.
9.
Obsolete. drawn tight or close.
Origin
1570-80; < Latin strictus, equivalent to strig-, variant stem of stringere to draw tight + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
strictness, noun
overstrict, adjective
superstrict, adjective
superstrictly, adverb
superstrictness, noun
unstrict, adjective
unstrictly, adverb
unstrictness, noun
Synonyms
1. narrow, illiberal, harsh, austere. Strict, rigid, rigorous, stringent imply inflexibility, severity, and an exacting quality. Strict implies great exactness, especially in the observance or enforcement of rules: strict discipline. Rigid, literally stiff or unbending, applies to that which is (often unnecessarily or narrowly) inflexible: rigid economy. Rigorous, with the same literal meaning, applies to that which is severe, exacting, and uncompromising, especially in action or application: rigorous self-denial. Stringent applies to that which is vigorously exacting and severe: stringent measures to suppress disorder. 4. accurate, scrupulous.
Antonyms
1. flexible, lax.
British Dictionary definitions for strictness

strict

/strɪkt/
adjective
1.
adhering closely to specified rules, ordinances, etc: a strict faith
2.
complied with or enforced stringently; rigorous: a strict code of conduct
3.
severely correct in attention to rules of conduct or morality: a strict teacher
4.
(of a punishment, etc) harsh; severe
5.
(prenominal) complete; absolute: in strict secrecy
6.
(logic, maths, of a relation)
  1. applying more narrowly than some other relation often given the same name, as strict inclusion, which holds only between pairs of sets that are distinct, while simple inclusion permits the case in which they are identical See also proper (sense 9), ordering
  2. distinguished from a relation of the same name that is not the subject of formal study
7.
(botany, rare) very straight, narrow, and upright: strict panicles
Derived Forms
strictly, adverb
strictness, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin strictus, from stringere to draw tight
Word Origin and History for strictness

strict

adj.

1590s, "narrow, drawn in, small," from Latin strictus "drawn together, tight, rigid," past participle of stringere "draw or bind tight" (see strain (v.)). The sense of "stringent and rigorous" (of law) is first found in 1570s; of qualities or conditions generally, 1580s.