devotee
Americannoun
-
a person who is greatly devoted to something.
-
a person who is extremely devoted to a religion; a follower.
-
an enthusiastic follower or fan.
He's a devotee of jazz.
noun
-
a person ardently enthusiastic about or devoted to something, such as a sport or pastime
-
a zealous follower of a religion
Synonym Usage
See fanatic.
Etymology
Origin of devotee
Explanation
Devotee is a fancy word for "fan." Some people are superfans of Katy Perry. Others save their love and adoration for Mozart. Either way, they are huge devotees of the musicians they love. People are called devotees because they're particularly devoted to something. Be it hot yoga, fluffy cats or chocolate cake, a devotee is an ardent follower. In the traditional sense this word was reserved for the extremely devout, who were devoted to their religion. But these days you can be a devotee of just about anything.
Vocabulary lists containing devotee
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr.
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
An unapologetic devotee of the outrageous antics and high melodrama which characterize the genre, Oliver said, “Write me a role and I will be on your set so fast it will make your head swim.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
“We’re Philadelphia sports fans,” one Eagles devotee laments in “The Philly Special.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 28, 2026
And that is precisely why I, a longtime devotee of the city, found myself at the Luxor for a three-day stint in October.
From Slate ● Nov. 18, 2025
You don’t have to be a devotee of Bernie Sanders or New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Madami to recognize that fact.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2025
Indeed, anyone proposing such a course must come under suspicion as a devotee of paralysis.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
