nitty-gritty

noun

nit·​ty-grit·​ty ˌni-tē-ˈgri-tē How to pronounce nitty-gritty (audio)
ˈni-tē-ˌgri-
: what is essential and basic : specific practical details
get down to the nitty-gritty of the problem
nitty-gritty adjective

Examples of nitty-gritty in a Sentence

the governor tends to leave the nitty-gritty of running the state government to others a look at the nitty-gritty aspects of putting out a newspaper
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The promise of regulatory cuts may prove more compelling as a declaration of war against the status quo than a nitty-gritty elimination of individual rules, experts said. Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2024 Yet to be hashed out are some nitty-gritty details. Todd Spangler, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024 Consult with a mental health professional for the true nitty-gritty. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 The record is nitty-gritty garage-rock and sweaty alt-country under the haze of neon barroom lights. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2024 The Electoral College nitty-gritty The margins in all these swing states are extremely tight. Andrew Prokop, Vox, 3 Sep. 2024 These sorts of specific, nitty-gritty details are not well suited for congressional legislation or a judge’s decision. Meredith Moore, Scientific American, 11 July 2024 Watson, in his first day of testimony, put some distance between himself and the financial nitty-gritty at fast-growing Ozy. Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 2 July 2024 Agencies use their expertise to turn broad-brush statutes into nitty-gritty policies, and the courts intervene only in extreme circumstances. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitty-gritty was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near nitty-gritty

Cite this Entry

“Nitty-gritty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitty-gritty. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

nitty-gritty

noun
nit·​ty-grit·​ty
ˈnit-ē-ˌgrit-ē,
ˌnit-ē-ˈgrit-ē
: what is essential and basic
the nitty-gritty of the problem
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!