cult

[ kuhlt ]

noun

1. a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers:

   the physical fitness cult.

3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7. the members of such a religion or sect.
8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

adjective

1. of or relating to a cult.
2. of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees:

   a cult movie.

cult

/ kʌlt /

noun

1. a specific system of religious worship, esp with reference to its rites and deity
2. a sect devoted to such a system
3. a quasi-religious organization using devious psychological techniques to gain and control adherents
4. sociol a group having an exclusive ideology and ritual practices centred on sacred symbols, esp one characterized by lack of organizational structure
5. intense interest in and devotion to a person, idea, or activity

   the cult of yoga

6. the person, idea, etc, arousing such devotion
7. 1. something regarded as fashionable or significant by a particular group
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cult show

8. modifier of, relating to, or characteristic of a cult or cults

   a cult figure

cult

1. In anthropology , an organization for the conduct of ritual, magical, or other religious observances. Many so-called primitive tribes, for example, have ancestor cults, in which dead ancestors are considered divine and activities are organized to respect their memory and invoke their aid. A cult is also a religious group held together by a dominant, often charismatic individual, or by the worship of a divinity, an idol, or some other object. ( See animism (see also animism ), fetish , and totemism .)

Notes

The term cult often suggests extreme beliefs and bizarre behavior.

Derived Forms

• ˈcultism, noun
• ˈcultist, noun

Other Words From

• cultic cul·tu·al [kuhl, -choo-, uh, l], adjective
• cultish adjective
• anti·cult noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cult¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin cultus “habitation, tilling, refinement, worship,” equivalent to cul-, variant stem of colere “to inhabit, till, worship” + -tus, suffix of verb action

Word History and Origins

Origin of cult¹

C17: from Latin cultus cultivation, refinement, from colere to till

Example Sentences

McDonald’s is also bringing back the cult favorite, the McRib, nationwide for the first time in eight years.

From Washington Post

Earlier this summer, audio startup Clubhouse raised eyebrows when it banked a $100 million early valuation, and just a few months ago, Roam, a note-taking app with a cult following raised a seed round on $200 million.

From TechCrunch

Those units have sold for heavily inflated prices on eBay as the hard-to-access demo has achieved cult classic status among horror game fans.

From Ars Technica

Once FDR won, the cult of Eleanor was as wide as the Mississippi River.

From Washington Post

Plus, Tyson is replacing federal inspectors with its own employees, and more news to start your dayMcDonald’s McRib sandwich has evolved into a cult obsession ever since its launch in 1981.

From Eater

In the last year, her fusion exercise class has attracted a cult following and become de rigueur among the celebrity set.

From The Daily Beast

Malone first met Anderson by chance over a decade ago following the release of the cult hit Donnie Darko.

From The Daily Beast

The Cult of Pappy van Winkle By Elton Felton There are lines around the block and long waiting lists.

From The Daily Beast

The cult of corporatism allows us to reimagine the corporation as our ultimate access point to the infinitude of possibility.

From The Daily Beast

The film was critically panned upon its release, but has since gained a cult following.

From The Daily Beast

In a series of lightning raids Port Adelaide police have arrested six teenagers who they claim are members of a sex cult.

From Project Gutenberg

Vice Squad detectives say the cult indulged in sex and drug parties.

From Project Gutenberg

They are children raised by a secret cult on my own world, trained into strange practices.

From Project Gutenberg

Surely the doctrines of Christianity would stand like a barricade against this monstrous cult.

From Project Gutenberg

Since the day when they had first received her, the Brodricks had established a regular cult of Jane Holland.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• band
• church
• clan
• clique
• denomination
• faith
• religion
• sect