acolyte
Americannoun
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an altar attendant in public worship.
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Roman Catholic Church.
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a member of the highest-ranking of the four minor orders.
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the order itself.
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any attendant, assistant, or follower.
noun
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a follower or attendant
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Christianity an officer who attends or assists a priest
Etymology
Origin of acolyte
1275–1325; Middle English acolite < Medieval Latin acolytus < Greek akólouthos follower, attendant, equivalent to a- prefix denoting association + -kolouthos, variant of kéleuthos road, journey
Explanation
A person who helps with religious services is an acolyte. An acolyte is also a fan or follower of the famous, so you can find an acolyte in church or at a concert. Acolyte goes back to the Greek root akolouthos, meaning "follower," and it came into English in the 14th century. While an acolyte often serves in an earned and admired role within a religious ceremony, a second definition is "fan." Acolytes of movie stars or pro athletes closely follow their careers — with great admiration — and would love to be just like their heroes.
Vocabulary lists containing acolyte
The Stranger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For “One Battle After Another,” Anderson, an acolyte of “The French Connection,” wanted VistaVision for its toothy texture and lush but less-than-clean picture.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025
Takaichi, 64, an acolyte of former premier Shinzo Abe, has advocated her mentor's "Abenomics" economic policies including massive monetary easing and active fiscal spending.
From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025
FX’s “Damages” riveted audiences with its escalating battles between Glenn Close’s legal shark Patty Hewes and her supposed acolyte, Rose Byrne’s fresh-out-of-law school Ellen Parsons.
From Salon • May 9, 2025
"I wouldn't say I was a friend of hers, I was an acolyte, and she allowed me to be so."
From BBC • Sep. 28, 2024
Her best friend and number one acolyte, Cynthia, asks her if someone died.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
