Word of the Day - 11/09/25
ultracrepidarian
/ˌʌltrəˌkrɛpɪˈdɛriən/(n.): a person who expresses opinions on matters outside the scope of their knowledge or expertise
During the debate, John proved to be an ultracrepidarian, confidently offering solutions to quantum physics problems despite being an accountant.
Word Origin
The word 'ultracrepidarian' was coined by William Hazlitt in 1819. It originates from the Latin phrase "Sutor, ne ultra crepidam," which translates to "Cobbler, stick to your last" or "Cobbler, not beyond the slipper." This phrase is famously attributed to the Greek painter Apelles, who, when a cobbler criticized the depiction of a sandal in his painting, told the cobbler to limit his critiques to footwear, not anatomy. The word breaks down into 'ultra-' (Latin for 'beyond'), 'crepid-' (from Latin 'crepida', meaning 'sandal' or 'slipper', itself from Greek 'krepis'), and the English suffix '-arian' (denoting a person involved in or believing in something). Therefore, an ultracrepidarian is someone who offers opinions on matters outside their area of knowledge or expertise, going 'beyond the slipper.'
As a reminder, here are all of the words from this week:
invective aloof bilk
ultracrepidarian
See if you can remember all of this week's words! Here are some sentences that include all seven, followed by versions that simplify them to help you remember:
The ultracrepidarian judge, known for his equivocal rulings and a surprising lack of rapport with the defendants, was accused of being a recidivist himself in the way he would bilk the system; his aloof demeanor only fueled the public's invective.The judge, who gave opinions on subjects he knew nothing about and made unclear rulings, had a poor relationship with those on trial. He was accused of being a repeat offender in how he would cheat the system, and his distant manner only made people criticize him more harshly.
The aloof ultracrepidarian, renowned for his invective against anyone who questioned his equivocal financial advice, managed to bilk several investors before his recidivist tendencies for fraud were exposed, permanently destroying any chance of building rapport.
The distant person who gave opinions on things they knew nothing about, famous for his harsh criticism of anyone who doubted his vague financial guidance, managed to scam several investors before his repeat offending for fraud was found out, completely ruining any chance of building trust.