adherent

noun

Definition of adherent

(Entry 1 of 2)

: one who adheres to something: such as

a : a follower of a leader, party, or profession Freud's adherents

b : a believer in or advocate especially of a particular idea or church adherents of Chrisitianity adherents of socialism

adherent

adjective

ad·her·ent | \ ad-ˈhir-ənt,

əd-\

Definition of adherent (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : able or tending to adhere an adherent material

2 : connected or associated with especially by contract nations adherent to the treaty

3 : adnate

Other Words from adherent Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Stick With Adherent More Example Sentences Learn More about adherent

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Synonyms & Antonyms for adherent

Synonyms: Noun

acolyte, convert, disciple, epigone, follower, liege man, partisan (also partizan), pupil, votarist, votary

Synonyms: Adjective

adhesive, clingy, gluey, glutinous, gummy, sticky, tacky, tenacious, viscid

Antonyms: Noun

coryphaeus, leader

Antonyms: Adjective

nonadhesive

Choose the Right Synonym for adherent

Noun

follower, adherent, disciple, partisan mean one who gives full loyalty and support to another. follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another. an evangelist and his followers adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment. adherents to Marxism disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master. disciples of Gandhi partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment. partisans of the President

Examples of adherent in a Sentence

Noun

an adherent of free trade the Flat Earth Society surely doesn't have many adherents

Adjective

the bandage is made from a mildly adherent fiber

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Partch is a biochemist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who specializes in circadian rhythms, which is not only an actual research field, but one whose adherents won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. — Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "Why You Should Have Heart Surgery in the Afternoon," 26 Dec. 2018 The discussion thread touched on a number of topics, including the ways in which the Internet gives new life to conspiracy theories and allows adherents of said theories to organize around them. — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "Talk amongst yourselves: 2018’s most-commented stories on Ars," 24 Dec. 2018 Many natural-law adherents believe that this higher law originates from God rather than humanistic values, although not all versions of the philosophy are explicitly religious. — Jess Bravin, WSJ, "Justice Neil Gorsuch’s Speech to Catholic Group Closed to the Media," 18 Oct. 2018 France's military has been active in the coalition since 2014, and ISIS adherents have killed more than 200 people in France in recent years. — Robert Gearty, Fox News, "Paris attacker apparently pledged allegiance to ISIS in video," 13 May 2018 The Duggar family from TLC’s 17 Kids and Counting is one of the more prominent adherents of the QuiverFull philosophy, which borrows much of its ideology from the 1985 book The Way Home by Mary Pride. — Michael Harriot, The Root, "Couple Who Kept Their 13 Children in Chains Begs Question: What Kind of White People Mess Is ‘QuiverFull’?," 17 Jan. 2018 Specifically, lagom adherents never let good leftovers go to waste. — Rachel Jacoby Zoldan, SELF, "The 8 Best Lessons I Learned Living the Lagom Life," 31 Oct. 2018 Photo: Alexei Druzhinin/Planet Pix/ZUMA PRESS Few foreigners display the devotion of Mr. Monson, a longtime adherent of socialism and anarchism whose many tattoos include a hammer and sickle. — James Marson, WSJ, "An American Heavyweight Infiltrates Russian Politics—and the Russians Are All for It," 30 Sep. 2018 Pope Francis’ pursuit of the deal reflects his desire for better relations with China—where Christianity is growing fast, though most new adherents are Protestants—and an end to divisions among Catholics there. — Eva Dou, WSJ, "China and Vatican to Sign Landmark Deal Over Bishops," 14 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adherent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for adherent

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin adhaerent-, adhaerens, going back to Latin, present participle of adhaerēre "to adhere"

Adjective

Middle English aherdaunt, adherent, borrowed from Anglo-French aheirdant, going back to Latin adhaerent-, adhaerens, present participle of adhaerēre "to adhere"

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