zealot

noun

zeal·​ot ˈze-lət How to pronounce zealot (audio)
1
: a zealous person
especially : a fanatical partisan
a religious zealot
2
capitalized : 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.

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
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.
Crypto as Gospel, Alignment, and Exploitation Crypto has always attracted zealots. Chris Groshong, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025 This is not a game; until the kooks and zealots rampaging over the public health infrastructure are constrained, many people could die. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025 But the Democratic coalition, and thus all the important institutions in his state, is run by zealots on the trans issue. The Editors, National Review, 4 June 2025 Critics argued that Angel was essentially goosing its own box office receipts by persuading a passionate fan base to bankroll phantom tickets: enamored zealots shelling out for empty seats. Calum Marsh, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for zealot

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin zelotes, from Greek zēlōtēs, from zēlos

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of zealot was in 1537

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Cite this Entry

“Zealot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zealot. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

zealot

noun
zeal·​ot ˈzel-ət How to pronounce zealot (audio)
: a zealous person
especially : an overly zealous supporter

More from Merriam-Webster on zealot

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