fanatic

American  

[fuh-nat-ik] / fəˈnæt ɪk /

noun

1. a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics.

   Synonyms:

   militant, hothead, bigot, zealot, enthusiast

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adjective

1. fanatical.

fanatic British  

/ fəˈnætɪk /

noun

1. a person whose enthusiasm or zeal for something is extreme or beyond normal limits

2. informal a person devoted to a particular hobby or pastime; fan

   a jazz fanatic

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adjective

1. a variant of fanatical

Usage

What does fanatic mean? A fanatic is a person with an extreme and often unquestioning enthusiasm, devotion, or zeal for something, such as a religion, political stance, or cause. This sense of the word is typically used negatively to imply that someone takes such devotion too far, as in They’re considered religious fanatics due to their extreme practices. Close synonyms are extremist, radical, and zealot. Other times, fanatic is not used negatively but instead simply refers to someone who is extreme in their devotion or enthusiasm for an interest or hobby. For example, calling someone a sports fanatic means they’re an extremely enthusiastic fan of sports. In fact, the word fan is a shortening of fanatic. Less commonly, fanatic can be used as an adjective meaning the same thing as fanatical—having and motivated by extreme enthusiasm or devotion. Example: We dismiss them as fanatics, but their beliefs may be more widespread than we think.

Related Words

Fanatic, zealot, militant, devotee refer to persons showing more than ordinary support for, adherence to, or interest in a cause, point of view, or activity. Fanatic and zealot both suggest excessive or overweening devotion to a cause or belief. Fanatic further implies unbalanced or obsessive behavior: a wild-eyed fanatic. Zealot, only slightly less unfavorable in implication than fanatic, implies single-minded partisanship: a tireless zealot for tax reform. Militant stresses vigorous, aggressive support for or opposition to a plan or ideal and suggests a combative stance. Devotee is a milder term than any of the foregoing, suggesting enthusiasm but not to the exclusion of other interests or possible points of view: a jazz devotee.

Other Word Forms

• nonfanatic
  noun

Etymology

Origin of fanatic

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin fānāticus “pertaining to a temple, inspired by a divinity, frantic,” equivalent to fānum “temple” + -āticus, equivalent to -āt(us) -ate ¹ + -icus -ic

Explanation

If you’re apt to come off as a little zany and express extreme enthusiasm for a particular idea or thing, you may be described as a fanatic. "She’s a real vegetable fanatic; I’ve never seen someone so enthusiastic about gardening methods. From the Latin fanaticus meaning “mad, enthusiastic,” the noun fanatic means “zealous person.” You know how right before the family gathers for Thanksgiving each year, everyone warns each other not to get your Uncle Jimmy started on the role of government in everyday life? That’s because he’s a fanatic, and as Winston Churchill so aptly phrased it, “A fanatic is someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

Example Sentences

I really love all things plant-based, and I’m a very big music fanatic.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Fitness fanatic Aimee Oliver never imagined that giving birth would ultimately cause her to need surgery for incontinence.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

By the end of the first season, I was a fanatic.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

With a fanatic following, limited auto production, and high margins on cars averaging about $500,000 each, Ferrari is more like a luxury company than an auto maker.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

She did not hear me, she went on raving like a mad-woman, a fanatic, her long fingers twisting and tearing the black stuff of her dress.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• addict
• bigot
• devotee
• enthusiast
• extremist
• fiend
• freak
• maniac
• militant
• nut
• radical
• visionary
• zealot