"Pundit" in contemporary English refers to an individual considered highly knowledgeable in a particular subject area, most typically political analysis and the social sciences.
The term originates from the Indian term pandit.
In the English-speaking West, pundits are those who are the presiding experts on a subject; and write signed articles in newspapers or appear on radio or television to opine on current events. Television pundits are sometimes called talking heads.
By extension, the term pundit is also used to refer to individuals that express opinions in the media without necessarily being a recognized expert on a particular subject matter. Pundits are often accused of being politically biased and for using informal logic in fallacious ways; in this sense, the term is also used as a term of disparagement.
For a partial listing of pundits in the print media in North America, see the article newspaper columnists.
