votary

noun

vo·​ta·​ry ˈvō-tə-rē How to pronounce votary (audio)
plural votaries
1
a
b
: a devoted admirer
2
a
: a devout or zealous worshipper
b
: a staunch believer or advocate
3
archaic : a sworn adherent

Examples of votary in a Sentence

a votary of the religious leader
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.
His account of the violent neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party evokes antipathy: votaries of the far right have murdered immigrants and leftists, built deep links to Greek law enforcement that give greater latitude to their thuggery, and gained modest representation in the parliament. Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025 But the fate of the votary is to require and receive a constant renewal of faith. Jeff Weiss, Spin, 21 Aug. 2023 The Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker has long been a loud votary of progress. Samuel Moyn, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Latin votum vow

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of votary was in 1543

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Votary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/votary. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

votary

noun
vo·​ta·​ry ˈvōt-ə-rē How to pronounce votary (audio)
plural votaries
: a devoted follower
especially : a devout or eager worshipper
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!