fetishism

or fet·ich·ism

[ fet-i-shiz-uhm, fee-ti- ]

noun

1. belief in or use of fetishes.
2. Psychiatry. the compulsive use of some object, or part of the body, as a stimulus in the course of attaining sexual gratification, as a shoe, a lock of hair, or underclothes.
3. blind devotion:

   a fetishism of sacrifice to one's children.

fetishism

/ ˈfɛtɪˌʃɪzəm; ˈfiː- /

noun

1. a condition in which the handling of an inanimate object or a specific part of the body other than the sexual organs is a source of sexual satisfaction
2. belief in or recourse to a fetish for magical purposes
3. excessive attention or attachment to something

Derived Forms

• ˈfetishist, noun
• ˌfetishˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• fetish·ist noun
• fetish·istic adjective
• fetish·isti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fetishism¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; fetish + -ism

Example Sentences

I’d say that I’ve been thinking a lot about how the American work ethic is a fetishism of work, the process of work, and not of the worker.

From Vox

In the world of liberal racism, the problem isn’t hate so much as it is unthinking and callous fetishism.

From Vox

Fat fetishism has deep roots for many fat people, especially fat women.

From Vox

Fetishism of the Zui description is, indeed, the natural concomitant of a totemic system.

From Project Gutenberg

One of them is that on which we have just commented, the assimilation between Positivism and Fetishism.

From Project Gutenberg

Fetishism forms an important link in the evolution of the mere animistic spirit into the god.

From Project Gutenberg

Fetishism, phallicism, animism, and tree- and serpent-worship were very common.

From Project Gutenberg

Our beginning is with the prevailing religion of Africa, Fetishism.

From Project Gutenberg