cargo cult
noun
: any of various Melanesian religious groups characterized by the belief that material wealth (such as money or manufactured goods) can be obtained through ritual worship
Examples of cargo cult in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The attempts to re-use the anti-Soviet playbook have the flavor of a cargo cult.
—
Steve Larkin, The Week, 22 Mar. 2022
So far, Neom is less a city than an urbanist cargo cult.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2022
Steve Larkin, The Week, 22 Mar. 2022
So far, Neom is less a city than an urbanist cargo cult.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cargo cult.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1949, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near cargo cult
Cite this Entry
“Cargo cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cargo%20cult. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on cargo cult
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cargo cult
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