A Puritan was a member of a religious group in England and America during the 1500s and 1600s who believed the Church of England needed to be “purified” of Catholic practices and ceremonies. Puritans wanted simpler church services, plainer buildings, and stricter religious rules. They thought people should focus on reading the Bible, working hard, and living disciplined lives.

Many Puritans left England for America in the 1600s to practice their religion freely. They founded colonies like Massachusetts Bay, where they created communities built around their religious beliefs. Puritan values shaped early American culture in lasting ways: their emphasis on education led to founding schools and colleges, their focus on hard work influenced American attitudes about success, and their belief in self-government helped develop democratic ideas.

Today, people use puritan (lowercase) to describe someone with very strict moral standards, especially about pleasure or fun. If someone calls you puritanical, they mean you're being overly rigid about rules or opposed to things that seem enjoyable but harmless. “Don't be such a puritan about dessert” means “relax and enjoy yourself a little.” This modern meaning captures the Puritans' reputation for strictness, though it can exaggerate or oversimplify their actual beliefs and lives.