# criticism

/ˈkɹɪtɪˌsɪzəm/ (US) · /kɹˈɪtɪsˌɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/criticism
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. disapproval

noun · CEFR B2

the act of saying that something or someone is bad or has faults.

For teachers: the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.

- The manager's constant criticism made it very difficult for the team to stay motivated.
- The government faced sharp criticism from the international community regarding its recent changes to environmental policy.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate the target.

### 2. professional analysis

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a careful and professional judgment of a book, film, or piece of art.

For teachers: the formal analysis and evaluation of a literary or artistic work.

- She decided to study literary criticism to better understand how famous novels are structured.
- The professor's lecture focused on feminist criticism of nineteenth-century poetry, highlighting themes that previous scholars had overlooked.

Usage: In this academic sense, the word is often uncountable.

## Examples

- She received some harsh criticism for her latest painting.
- The manager's constructive criticism helped the team improve their workflow without making anyone feel discouraged.
- While the film was a commercial success, it faced significant academic criticism for its historical inaccuracies and its overly simplistic portrayal of complex political events.

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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.