often attributive
1
: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious (see spurious sense 2)
also : its body of adherents
the voodoo cult
a satanic cult
2
a
: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (such as a film or book)
criticizing how the media promotes the cult of celebrity
especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad
b
: the object of such devotion
c
: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
the singer's cult of fans
The film has a cult following.
3
: a system of religious beliefs and ritual
also : its body of adherents
the cult of Apollo
4
: formal religious veneration : worship
5
: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
health cults
cultic adjective
cultish adjective
cultishly adverb
cultishness noun
cultism noun
cultlike adjective

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The Overlap of Cults and Culture

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."

Examples of cult in a Sentence

She has developed a cult following. long after it had gone off the air, the TV series continued to have a huge cult
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even after growing a cult following on social media with videos of unhinged characters, then breaking out on Max's Hacks, Stalter might have felt nervous about anchoring such a high-profile show. Judy Berman, Time, 10 July 2025 The other two are excellent as well, and Pine Needles hosted the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open. Pine Needles and Mid-Pines have always had a cult following and serious players know how good the courses are. Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 The Kinks remain one of the most beloved cult bands in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025 The series, which first premiered in 2005, has become the longest-running live-action sitcom in American television history, and its cult following remains as strong as ever. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025 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

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of cult was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

cult

noun
1
: a system of religious worship
2
a
: enthusiastic but often temporary devotion to a person, idea, or thing
b
: the object of such devotion
c
: a group of persons who belong to or show devotion to a cult
cultist noun

Medical Definition

cult

abbreviation

More from Merriam-Webster on cult

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