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 There are tons of cult classics, indie hits, and other low-key titles on sale starting at just $1, too, like the undying Left 4 Dead 2. Quentyn Kennemer, The Verge, 15 Mar. 2024 The 1994 movie adaptation was directed by Alex Proyas—a film known for its cult status and a tragic history that culminated in the death of lead actor Brandon Lee. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 14 Mar. 2024 However, the campy flick has since become a cult classic in the years that followed. People Staff, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 Our movie is about Klaus Nomi, the German countertenor that became a cult figure in 1980s New York and died, far too soon, as one of the first victims of AIDS. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 The Japanese studio is known for developing cult classics that are unconventional but stand out for their visual flare. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Topps, a childhood cult survivor who counts her time on the show as an important step forward in her personal mental health journey, says that bathroom breaks provided a rare opportunity for reflection. Rachel Pick, SELF, 6 Mar. 2024 Last October, the 2004 cult teen comedy Mean Girls was portioned into 23 parts to unanimous celebration. Jason Parham, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024 The final two seasons featured a cult storyline that had to be wrapped up quickly when Freeform announced that Season 5 would be the show’s last. Megan Vick, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '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

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

Dictionary Entries Near cult

Cite this Entry

“Cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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