criticism

IPA/ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
KK[krˈɪtɪsˌɪzəm]IPA/ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/

criticism — noun

  • criticismsingular
  • criticismsplural

1. The act of telling someone or the public that a person, idea, or thing has fault

1.nounB1
Definition

The act of telling someone or the public that a person, idea, or thing has faults or has done something wrong; a specific remark that points out problems or mistakes.

Example

The mayor faced strong criticism from residents after the park was closed for construction.

collocation: face + criticism

Yusuf listened carefully to his coach's criticism and changed his training method the next week.

possessive: coach's criticism

Common collocations
  • face criticism
  • come under criticism
  • attract criticism
  • receive criticism
  • harsh/severe/strong/heavy criticism
  • constructive criticism
  • fair/unfair criticism
  • a wave of criticism
  • criticism of somebody/something
Synonyms
  • disapproval

    more general — disapproval can be silent or unexpressed; criticism is usually voiced or written

  • objection

    stronger and more specific — an objection is a reason for disagreeing, often in a formal setting

  • complaint

    focuses on personal dissatisfaction rather than pointing out faults objectively

Antonyms
  • praise

    expression of approval or admiration, opposite in intent

  • approval

    the act of agreeing with or accepting something as good

Grammar Patterns

criticism + of + noun phrase

a + criticism + that-clause

make + criticism

face/come under + criticism

Usage Note

Constructive criticism is a common phrase meaning helpful feedback intended to help someone improve, not simply to express disapproval.

Common Mistakes

I gave him a criticism about his report.
I gave him some criticism about his report.
When criticism refers to the general act of disapproving, it is usually uncountable. Use 'a criticism' only when talking about one specific remark.

2. The activity of carefully studying and giving your opinion about the qualities o

2.nounB2
Definition

The activity of carefully studying and giving your opinion about the qualities of creative works such as books, films, music, or paintings; a written or spoken evaluation of an artistic piece.

Example

Dr. Okonkwo's literary criticism of the novel was published in a respected academic journal.

possessive: literary criticism

Film criticism in the weekend newspaper helps Noa choose which movies to watch.

compound noun: film criticism

Common collocations
  • literary criticism
  • film criticism
  • art criticism
  • music criticism
  • academic criticism
  • critical analysis
  • a work of criticism
  • the field of criticism
Synonyms
  • critique

    more formal and always implies detailed analysis; 'critique' does not carry the negative tone of 'criticism'

  • review

    more common in everyday language for film, book, or restaurant opinions; less academic in tone

  • evaluation

    broader — applies to any systematic judgment, not limited to creative works

Grammar Patterns

literary/film/art + criticism

criticism + of + work of art

Usage Note

In this sense, criticism does NOT carry a negative meaning — it refers to thoughtful evaluation that may be positive, negative, or mixed. This differs from sense 1 (DISAPPROVAL), which always implies finding fault.

Common Mistakes

I read a criticism of the film that praised it highly.' (suggests disapproval)
I read a review or critique of the film that praised it highly.
When the evaluation is positive, 'review' or 'critique' is clearer than 'criticism,' which many readers interpret as negative.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words relate to negative reactions, each has a different emphasis. Disapproval is the broadest — it can be a silent feeling of not agreeing with something, without ever being spoken. Objection is more specific: it names a particular reason for disagreeing, often raised in formal discussions or legal settings. Complaint focuses on personal dissatisfaction — when you complain, you are usually upset about something that affects you directly. Critique is the most neutral and analytical: it is a detailed evaluation that may find both strengths and weaknesses, and unlike criticism, it does not carry a default negative tone. For example, a teacher might express disapproval of a student's lateness without saying a word, raise an objection to a late assignment policy, hear a complaint from the student about the grading system, and then write a critique of the assignment structure for the department.

disapproval ↗objection ↗complaint ↗critique ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • under criticism
  • subject to criticism
  • a target of criticism
  • open to criticism
  • beyond criticism

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word criticism traces back to the Greek verb krī́nein (κρίνειν), meaning 'to decide, separate, or judge.' From this came kritikós (κριτικός), 'able to judge or discern,' which moved into Latin as criticus, then into French as critique. English borrowed the word in the early 1600s from French, first referring to the scholarly analysis of ancient texts, and later broadened to include disapproval and evaluation of all kinds of works and actions.