The original pundits were highly respected teachers and leaders in India. Their title was taken from the Hindi word pandit, a term of respect for a wise person that itself derives from the Sanskrit pandita, meaning "learned." English speakers began using the form pundit specifically to refer to those Hindu sages as long ago as the 1600s. By the 1800s, they had also extended the term to refer to other sagacious individuals, and now pundit is often used with a hint of sarcasm to refer to informed opinion makers (such as political commentators, financial analysts, and newspaper columnists) who boldly share their views (sometimes at great length) on just about any subject that lies within their areas of expertise.
a moral question that has puzzled the pundits throughout the ages the new mini laptop has gotten a thumbs-up from industry pundits
Recent Examples on the WebWas this a prediction, suitable for a political pundit? Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 The guitarist and banjoist announced his exit from the folk-rock band in June 2021 in the wake of controversy that stemmed from his support of a far-right pundit. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2022 However, Hu Xijin, a political pundit and former editor-in-chief of the state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times -- who had warned of Chinese military retaliation against the US in the lead-up to Pelosi's trip -- tried to temper any discontent. Simone Mccarthy And Brad Lendon, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 Political pundit Ben Shapiro is one of those critics. Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 22 Sep. 2021 Between then and now, Palin was a face of the Obama-era tea party movement -- a precursor, in style and substance, to Trump's platform -- and was a conservative pundit and TV personality. Alina Kim, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2022 Leonhardt isn’t the only pundit or journalist to lean on false equivalency recently, or fail to grasp the ethical problems with simply letting the virus rip now that some people are vaccinated. Melody Schreiber, The New Republic, 28 Jan. 2022 Karl isn't a progressive pundit or a hyperbolic columnist. Brian Stelter, CNN, 31 Oct. 2021 McCain served as the series’ conservative pundit for nearly four years before announcing her resignation. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Hindi paṇḍit, from Sanskrit paṇḍita, from paṇḍita learned