zealot

noun

zeal·​ot ˈze-lət 

1

: a zealous person

especially : a fanatical partisan

a religious zealot

2

Zealot : a member of a fanatical sect arising in Judea during the first century a.d. and militantly opposing the Roman domination of Palestine

Did you know?

In the 1st century A.D., a fanatical sect arose in Judaea to oppose the Roman domination of Palestine. Known as the Zealots, they fought their most famous battle at the great fortress of Masada, where 1,000 defenders took their own lives just as the Romans were about to storm the fort. Over the years, zealot came to mean anyone who is passionately devoted to a cause. The adjective zealous may describe someone who's merely dedicated and energetic ("a zealous investigator", "zealous about combating inflation", etc.). But zealot (like its synonym fanatic) and zealotry (like its synonym fanaticism) are used disapprovingly—even while Jews everywhere still honor the memory of those who died at Masada.

Synonyms of zealot

• partisan
• militant
• crusader
• activist
• fanatic

Examples of zealot in a Sentence

zealots on both sides of the issue resorted to name-calling and scare tactics

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s left is a modern tale of school bullying, with a Margaret who is both a zealot and also, thanks to Sloyan, much more human than in the past. — William Earl, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Coverage of the story dovetailed with a hail of memes and insinuations online that Crockett is a zealot or a pretend cowboy out of his depth. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Democrats looking for a way to reclaim their party can find inspiration in the career of Neil Kinnock, who in the mid-1980s rescued the British Labour Party from a determined band of sectarian zealots. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Traditional safety zealot Phil Koopman points out that the public would not accept a system that cuts fatalities by 80% but the remaining ones are all children. — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin zelotes, from Greek zēlōtēs, from zēlos

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for zealot

• chelate
• pellet
• prelate
• appellate

Kids Definition

zealot

noun

zeal·​ot ˈzel-ət 

: a zealous person

especially : an overly zealous supporter