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Definition of fetish
1a : an object (such as a small stone carving of an animal) believed to have magical power to protect or aid its owner; broadly : a material object regarded with superstitious or extravagant trust or reverenceb : an object of irrational reverence or obsessive devotion : prepossessionc : an object or bodily part whose real or fantasied presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification and that is an object of fixation to the extent that it may interfere with complete sexual expression
2 : a rite or cult of fetish worshippers
3 : fixation
From the M-W Editors
Examples of fetish in a Sentence
He has a fetish for secrecy.
He wore a fetish to ward off evil spirits.
Recent Examples of fetish from the Web
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Okpokwasili turns herself into an African pain fetish.
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From vintage cruises to European motorcycle gatherings, gearheads can probably find some night tailored to their specific mechanical fetish at least once a month.
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Akihabara, Tokyo’s mecca for manga and anime, is also the heart of a fetish for schoolgirls and their uniforms.
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Most of the other plays were lighthearted comedies involving weird fetishes, the return of Aphrodite, an elementary school election and a three-way romance.
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The website bills itself as a place for users to connect with other people interested in bondage, sadomasochism and more obscure sexual fetish fantasies.
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A sizable portion of the female population has a shoe fetish.
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That Joe Millionaire finalist had appeared in foot-fetish videos!
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There’s some uncomfortable stuff going on in the fat fetish community.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fetish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
A Brief History of fetish
When fetish first appeared in English in the early 17th century, it referred to objects (often amulets) believed by certain West Africans to have supernatural powers. During the 19th century, the word took on a broader meaning: "an object of irrational devotion or reverence." The object need not be physical: a person may have a fetish for an idea, such as an unwarranted belief that a particular economic system will solve society’s ills. By the early 20th century, fetish took on yet another meaning quite distinct from its antecedents: a sexualized desire for an object (such as a shoe) or for a body part that is not directly related to the reproductive act (such as an earlobe).
Origin and Etymology of fetish
French & Portuguese; French fétiche, from Portuguese feitiço, from feitiço artificial, false, from Latin facticius factitious
Other Psychology Terms
FETISH Defined for English Language Learners
fetish
playDefinition of fetish for English Language Learners
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: a strong and unusual need or desire for something
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: a need or desire for an object, body part, or activity for sexual excitement
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: an object that is believed to have magical powers
Medical Dictionary
fetish
Medical Definition of fetish
: an object or bodily part whose real or fantasized presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification and that is an object of fixation to the extent that it may interfere with complete sexual expression
Learn More about fetish
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See words that rhyme with fetish Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fetish Spanish Central: Translation of fetish Nglish: Translation of fetish for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fetish
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