idol

American  

[ahyd-l] / ˈaɪd l /

noun

• idols
  plural

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.

Synonym Usage

See image.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• idols
  plural

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

See Examples For:

idol idols

But he was famous way before politics—Pulido is a Tejano star, a 1990s teen idol, a Tejano Backstreet Boy before there were the Backstreet Boys.

From Slate ● Sep. 28, 2026

Georgia Hunter Bell emerged from a melee of screaming children telling her she was their idol onto the red carpet and said she felt "valued".

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Like Grande to her adoring fans, Maddie is Deena’s idol, and Deena measures Maddie’s success by her work benchmarks and public visibility.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026

She performed with Nureyev for Queen Elizabeth II. A personal highlight was dancing alongside her idol, Margot Fonteyn, who she had first seen perform as a wide-eyed 20-year-old in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

“Now the Babylonians had an idol they called Bel,” he declared, his voice the only clear thing in the haze that hung over us.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

His influences and idols were eclectic; he was an English rock fanatic and a salsa obsessive; he loved everything from Hollywood westerns and gory B-pictures to European art-house cinema.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

But Eatherly was so extreme, he made even his idols blush.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

He happened to be a talented footballer, too, playing a stone's throw from his idols for USO Mompiano, before joining lower-league side Lumezzane and then AC Milan at the age of 12.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Since the pop culture festival began in 1970, it has grown into a major event, with thousands of sometimes-costumed fans gathering in San Diego to buy memorabilia, see their idols and celebrate beloved stories.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

While I’d loved meeting so many of my idols and competing against the best my sport had to offer, the meet hadn’t turned out for me the way I’d dreamed.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Related Words

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