# critic

/ˈkɹɪtɪk/ (US) · /kɹˈɪtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/critic
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. professional reviewer

noun · CEFR B2

a person whose job is to judge and write about movies, books, music, or art.

For teachers: a professional who evaluates and provides commentary on artistic or intellectual works.

- The film critic wrote a very positive review of the new superhero movie.
- The restaurant critic maintained a strict policy of anonymity to ensure that the service she received was representative of a typical diner's experience.

Usage: Often used with a modifier like 'film', 'art', or 'literary'.

### 2. person who finds fault

noun · CEFR B2

someone who says that they do not like something or someone, or who points out mistakes.

For teachers: an individual who expresses disapproval or highlights perceived flaws in a person, policy, or action.

- The mayor's critics say that his new plan will cost too much money.
- Despite the project's initial success, vocal critics argued that the long-term environmental consequences had been systematically ignored during the planning phase.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'of'.

## Examples

- The movie critic gave the new film a great review.
- The restaurant critic visited the bistro three times before writing her final column for the Sunday paper.
- While the director's latest work was a commercial success, it faced harsh treatment from every major critic who found the plot derivative and the pacing sluggish.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.