fetishism

noun

fe·​tish·​ism ˈfe-ti-ˌshi-zəm 

also ˈfē-

variants or less commonly fetichism

1

: belief in or use of spiritual fetishes

2

: extravagant irrational devotion

3

: the pathological displacement of erotic interest and satisfaction to a fetish

fetishist

ˈfe-ti-shist 

also ˈfē-

noun

fetishistic

ˌfe-ti-ˈshi-stik 

also

ˌfē- 

adjective

fetishistically

ˌfe-ti-ˈshi-sti-k(ə-)lē 

also ˌfē-

adverb

Examples of fetishism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To achieve this coherence, one must be freed from all fetishism toward the past and commit to a wholly new adventure. —Elinore Weil, Artforum, 4 Mar. 2026

The meat of the manuscript is Fedorova’s historical/sociological analysis of the elements of fetishism, also known as kink, each explored in one of 10 chapters: Leather, Latex, The Dominatrix, The Gimp, The Chaser, Feet, Medical Gloves, Cars, Monsters and The Fetish Club. —Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Like, before me, the person foot fetishism was defined by was Luis Buñuel, another film director. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025

Like, before me, the person foot fetishism was defined by was Luis Buñuel, another film director. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fetishism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Medical Definition

fetishism

noun

fe·​tish·​ism

variants also fetichism

-ish-ˌiz-əm 

: the pathological displacement of erotic interest and satisfaction to a fetish

fetishistic adjective

also fetichistic

ˌfet-ish-ˈis-tik also ˌfēt- 

fetishistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb