Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

nitpick

/ˈnɪt.pɪk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.13 in modern English

Syllables: nit-pick
IPA: /ˈnɪt.pɪk/

15

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To correct insignificant mistakes or find fault in unimportant details.

verb

To pick nits (lice eggs) from someone’s hair.

Archaic

verb

To pick nits (lice eggs) from someone’s hair. I nitpicked his hair.

Archaic

noun

A quibble about a minor mistake or fault.

Example Sentences

"Someone will invariably nitpick about any spelling error posted to the forums."
"But Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. The ambition is all in the craft rather than in the storytelling, but it’s hard to say no to the proficiency of that craft, or the mild good cheer behind it."
"I have a few nitpicks about the grammar in your report."

Etymology

From nit + pick, originally referring to literally removing tiny louse eggs by hand.

Usage

Archaic

Inflected Forms

nitpicks (present, singular) nitpicking (participle, present) nitpicked (participle, past) nitpicked (past) nitpicks (plural)

Derived Forms

Britpick nitpickery nutpick

Phrases

nit-picking split hairs

Frequently Paired Words

nitpicker nit-picking nitpickish nitpicky quibble split hairs

Synonyms

cavil flyspeck

Questions

How do you pronounce nitpick?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈnɪt.pɪk/.
What does nitpick mean?: To correct insignificant mistakes or find fault in unimportant details.
Where does nitpick come from?: From nit + pick, originally referring to literally removing tiny louse eggs by hand.

How to pronounce nitpick

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “nitpick”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈnɪt.pɪk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “nitpick”.
Repeat and practice — Say “nitpick” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.