adherent

[ad-heer-uhnt, -her-]

noun

1. a person who follows or upholds a leader, cause, etc.; supporter; follower.

   Synonyms: fan, devotee, disciple

adjective

1. sticking; clinging; adhering.

   an adherent substance.

2. bound by contract or other formal agreement.

   the nations adherent to the Geneva Convention.

3. Biology.,  adnate.

4. Grammar.,  standing before and modifying a noun; attributive.

adherent

/ ədˈhɪərənt /

noun

1. (usually foll by of) a supporter or follower

adjective

1. sticking, holding fast, or attached

Other Word Forms

• adherently adverb
• nonadherent adjective
• preadherent adjective
• preadherently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of adherent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin adhērent-, from Latin adhaerent-, stem of adhaerēns “sticking to,” present participle of adhaerēre “to stick to”; equivalent to adhere + -ent

Synonym Study

See follower.

Example Sentences

While universities need to change, the Administration’s overreach is likely to gain more decliners than adherents.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And so, when he uses martyr language to describe Kirk, his adherents latch on.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

However, the technocracy movement dates back to the 1930s, when it won thousands of followers and adopted some unnerving authoritarian hallmarks, such as its adherents dressing similarly and greeting each other with a specific salute.

Read more on Salon

Journalist Cam Wilson, who has spent years investigating sovereign citizens for his book Conspiracy Nation, says most pseudo-law adherents never resort to violence.

Read more on BBC

Dobson grew up in the fundamentalist Church of the Nazarene, one of those extremely conservative evangelical faiths that don’t allow dancing or dating, and remained a devoted adherent his entire life.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• backer 
• believer 
• devotee 
• disciple 
• enthusiast