cult

noun

ˈkəlt 

1

: a group (as an organization or religious sect) with tenets and practices regarded as coercive, insular, or dangerous

… cults use indoctrination methods that "program" beliefs through hypnosis, repetition, and behavior modification techniques …

—Steven A. Hassan

People alive in the 1980s and 1990s might remember the public fear that satanic cults were abusing and sacrificing children.

—H. Colleen Sinclair

… their beliefs and behavior become increasingly unusual, leading outside observers to describe the group as a cult.

—Steven Monacelli

—often used before another noun

a cult leader

2

a

: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (such as a film or book)

They criticized how the media promotes the cult of celebrity.

Debating ideas will get us farther than covering the cult of personality.

—Johanna Maska, quoted in Time

b

: the object of such devotion

Like many professional athletes, he became a cult of sorts …

—Roger Barbee

—often used before another noun

a cult classic

As perfume skyrocketed, certain fragrances assumed cult status …

—Jacqueline Kilikita

c

: a group of people characterized by such devotion

the singer's cult of fans

a cult of admirers

—often used before another noun

Specializing in artisanal popsicles, this colorful spot has since built a cult following.

—Michelle Matthews

3

: a system of religious beliefs and rituals

also : its body of adherents

the cult of Dionysus

an ancient fertility cult

In ancient Egypt, temples dedicated to specific religious cults or gods functioned as lucrative businesses.

—Kate McMahon

4

: formal religious veneration : worship

5

: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator

health cults

cultic

ˈkəl-tik 

adjective

cultish

ˈkəl-tish 

adjective

The four-part series is expected to explore both of their lives and the cultish nature of their followings.

—Phaedra Haywood

cultishly

ˈkəl-tish-lē 

adverb

cultishness

ˈkəl-tish-nəs 

noun

cultism

ˈkəl-ˌti-zəm 

noun

cultlike

ˈkəlt-ˌlīk 

adjective

Did you know?

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."

Synonyms of cult

• audience

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

Max Büsser, founder of the cult brand MB&F, gave 60 Minutes Correspondent Jon Wertheim an up-close look at some components the size of poppy seeds in his mechanical watches. —Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

He’s known for directing movies like Bridesmaids, The Heat and A Simple Favor, as well as creating the cult classic series Freaks and Geeks. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025

Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney is best known for co-writing and directing the offbeat cult-favorite sitcom Letterkenny (and executive producing its popular spinoff Shoresy). —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2025

The actor went on to have many more roles in his decades long career, but his most memorable one is possibly that of Shang Tsung in the 1995 film , which achieved cult status. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

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

Phrases Containing cult

• anti-cult
• cargo cult
• cult of celebrity
• cult of personality
• personality cult
• sub-cult

Rhymes for cult

• adult
• consult
• exult
• insult
• iseult
• occult
• result
• catapult
• subadult

Kids Definition

cult

noun

ˈkəlt 

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

ˈkəl-təst 

noun

Medical Definition

cult

abbreviation

culture