martinets

Martinets are people who demand strict adherence to rules and forms, especially in military or institutional settings.

The term comes from Jean Martinet, a 17th-century French army officer known for his rigid drilling methods.

A martinet insists on discipline and order, often to a degree that others find excessive or petty.

The new supervisor was a martinet who wrote people up for being two minutes late.

The word carries negative connotations, suggesting someone more concerned with enforcement than purpose.