plural cults
1
: a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous
a satanic cult
cult members
2
: a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone very much or too much
He criticizes the way journalists promote the cult of celebrity in modern America. [=the tendency of people to care too much about famous people]
a cult of personality = a personality cult
3
: a small group of very devoted supporters or fans
a cult of admirers
She has developed a cult following.
4
formal
: a system of religious beliefs and rituals
an ancient fertility cult
always used before a noun
: very popular among a group of people
a cult film/novel
Her works have achieved cult status.
The movie is a cult hit/classic/favorite.
Cite this Entry
“Cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cult. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.
Copy Citation
