Cult, which shares an origin with culture and cultivate, comes from the Latin cultus, a noun with meanings ranging from "tilling, cultivation" to "training or education" to "adoration." In English, cult has evolved a number of meanings following a fairly logical path. The earliest known uses of the word, recorded in the 17th century, broadly denoted "worship." From here cult came to refer to a specific branch of a religion or the rites and practices of that branch, as in "the cult of Dionysus." By the early 18th century, cult could refer to a non-religious admiration or devotion, such as to a person, idea, or fad ("the cult of success"). Finally, by the 19th century, the word came to be used of "a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious."
She has developed a cult following.
long after it had gone off the air, the TV series continued to have a huge cult
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Love, crime and sweat Some movies arrive seeming ready made as cult revival objects.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026 Karmitz said the programming is built around a balance of cult titles, recent classics, previews and films connected to the venue itself.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
3 July 2026 Polo will play the role of Margaret, Beau’s lieutenant in his cult operation, and who also connects to Jamie’s plight.—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
2 July 2026 Baume De Rose is an all-purpose balm that’s become a cult favorite, often referred to as the Rolls Royce of lip balms among beauty enthusiasts with over one million sold and continues to be a top seller.—ABC News,
6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cult
Word History
Etymology
French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate — more at wheel
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