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 former heavyweight champion was an avid automobile enthusiast, and the garage offers enough room for a collection of more than 50 cars.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
Hiking enthusiast Brian Seibert summited the more than 13,000-foot face of Mount Morgan’s north ridge Sunday, offering him a sweeping panorama view of the jagged peaks and crystalline lakes of the Eastern Sierra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Planning agents representing the bird enthusiast said he wanted to create a "major tourism venture", and that his former business in the grounds of Picton Castle ended because the lease was not renewed.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
There is even the European Horse Network, whose meetings with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen -- a well-known equine enthusiast -- were criticised by Corporate Europe Observatory for violating the commission's code of conduct.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
“Give them to your son. You’ve got birthdays and Christmases taken care of for a couple of years with all this. It’s good stuff any motorcycle enthusiast would love.”
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
With its scenic vistas and clear alpine waters, South Lake Tahoe long has been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, vacationers and wealthy Californians looking for a reprieve from city life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
The number of Gen Z enthusiasts - people aged 16 to 29 - rose from an estimated 61,000 in 2018 to 724,000 today, according to the study.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
Fitness enthusiasts will also have access to strength-training equipment, cardio facilities, yoga and barre offerings, squash, and personalized training services.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
Tech enthusiasts are eager for us to merge with machines: Ray Kurzweil, the futurist and inventor, thinks that nanotech brain implants will make us godlike.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Every human pastime—music, cooking, sports, art, theoretical physics—develops an argot to spare its enthusiasts from having to say or type a long-winded description every time they refer to a familiar concept in each other’s company.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
