hairsplitting meaning

UK US

hairsplitting (adjective): developed in excessively fine detail.

hairsplitting has 2 meanings in this dictionary, as adjective and noun.

hairsplitting as an adjective

  1. developed in excessively fine detail
    • finespun distinctions

    Synonyms: finespun

    Similar: precise

hairsplitting as a noun

  1. making too fine distinctions of little importance
    • they didn't take his hairsplitting seriously

    Synonyms: word-splitting

    Type of: differentiation

Scrabble score: 19 (letter breakdown)

Word lists: words starting with HA · words ending in NG · 13-letter words

More about hairsplitting on Wikipedia.