noun
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a person filled with or motivated by enthusiasm; fanatic
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archaic a religious visionary, esp one whose zeal for religion is extravagant or unbalanced
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of enthusiast
First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek enthousiastḗs “inspired person, possessed person,” from enthousí(a) “possession by a god” ( see enthusiasm) + -astēs -ast ( def. ) (variant of -istēs -ist after i )
Explanation
When you're an enthusiast, you're all jazzed up about a person or cause. A sports enthusiast is someone who is really passionate and excited about sports. Enthusiast comes from the Greek enthousiastēs, meaning "person inspired by a god." While it doesn't retain those same religious connotations today, an enthusiast is someone who is inspired by a cause or person. A candidate running for office will have a group of enthusiasts working doggedly on his campaign. Often your mother is your biggest enthusiast or supporter. Non-profit organizations are always looking for enthusiasts who can make donations and become patrons of their organization.
Vocabulary lists containing enthusiast
This Week In Culture: November 9–15, 2019
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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.
See Examples For:
The 63-year-old model-train enthusiast told Dickens, who stopped for a chat, he was there for his best friend, Roy, who died several years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
As a not-so-closet space enthusiast, I find the shift in thinking especially interesting.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
Dave Graham, a 37-year-old IT worker and space enthusiast, was unable to request IPO shares through his brokerage account due to his Canadian residency.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
Excitement levels in co-hosts Mexico and Canada appear to be higher, with Mexico City engulfed by enthusiast fans for their opening game on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
He was also, reputedly, an early enthusiast for the Copernican model, although he published nothing on the subject himself.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
For movie enthusiasts, the appeal of premium formats is not just about having a larger screen.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
But for history buffs and musical enthusiasts alike, a sonically richer version of the musical will air exclusively on Audible on April 16.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Although wellness appears to have never been more popular, there have been enthusiasts in the industry for decades.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
The two clubs watched fans pack their stadiums, saw their valuations soar and grabbed the attention of soccer enthusiasts worldwide.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The eastern woods teemed with flora unknown to the Old World, and there was a huge eagerness, from scientists and amateur enthusiasts alike, to get a piece of it.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
