idol

American  

[ahyd-l] / ˈaɪd l /

noun

1. an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.

2. Bible.

   1. an image of a deity other than God.

   2. the deity itself.

3. any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.

   Madame Curie had been her childhood idol.

   Synonyms:

   pet, darling, bookmark

4. a mere image or semblance of something, visible but without substance, as a phantom.

5. a figment of the mind; fantasy.

6. a false conception or notion; fallacy.

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idol British  

/ ˈaɪdəl /

noun

1. a material object, esp a carved image, that is worshipped as a god

2. Christianity Judaism any being (other than the one God) to which divine honour is paid

3. a person who is revered, admired, or highly loved

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Usage

What does idol mean? An idol is an object or image, such as a statue, that is worshipped as the representation of a deity or god. The word idol can also refer to the deity or god that is being worshipped. The worship of such an idol is sometimes called idolatry (or idol worship) and the people who do it can be called idolaters. The adjective idolatrous can be used to describe idolaters or their practices. This sense of idol and its related terms are typically used in a negative, judgmental way, implying that the god that the idol represents is not actually real and that such worship is wrong or sinful. In this way, an idol is sometimes called a false idol. A well-known example of an idol mentioned in a story in the Bible is the statue of a golden calf that the Israelites were said to have made while Moses was away receiving the Ten Commandments (which prohibit the worship of idols or “graven images”). Sometimes, idol is used in a metaphorical way to compare something to an object of religious devotion and worship, as in Money has become her idol. This sense of the word is also used in a critical way. Idol is also commonly used in a figurative way to refer to a person, especially a famous celebrity such as a pop singer, whom someone treats with extreme admiration and devotion. The word sometimes implies that such devotion is excessive, likening it to religious worship. The term teen idol refers to a star who is the subject of such devotion and adoration among teens (teen idols are often young but they may or may not be teens themselves). To be a fan of someone in this way is to idolize them (or, in more modern terms, to stan them). The words idolatry, idolater, and idolatrous can be used in this context, but they are much more commonly used in a religious context. Example: The trouble with having idols is that you start to model your behavior on them while ignoring their faults.

Related Words

See image.

Etymology

Origin of idol

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English from Late Latin īdōlum from Greek eídōlon “image, idol,” derivative of eîdos “shape, form”

Explanation

An idol can be a religious image or a person who people admire and maybe even seem to worship. A statue of a Hindu god is a religious idol, but Madame Curie is an idol to aspiring scientists. The word idol comes from the Old French idole for "pagan god," through the Greek eidolon for “reflection in water or a mirror.” In religion, an idol isn’t the real deity but a representation of it. These days, rock stars and celebrities are idols, but so are scientists and writers. If you say Flannery O’ Connor is your idol, you don’t mean you bow down before a statue of the Southern writer, it just means you admire her big time.

Example Sentences

The sport is now deep into its next generation of champions and Woods hovers over all of it, both as an idol to today’s contenders and a heavyweight force behind the game.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Like the idol supergroups it celebrates, this Netflix hit has been engineered to entertain.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Nearly 20,000 spectators in Bayamon, on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a US territory, gave the Argentine idol a standing ovation when he finally entered the game.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

"My biggest idol was probably Manuel Neuer," he said.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

You remember, the ones that Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band, my drumming idol, signed for me?

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick

Related Words

• deity
• god
• goddess
• graven image
• icon
• image
• simulacrum