idol

[ahyd-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.

idol

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of idol¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of idol¹

C13: from Late Latin īdōlum, from Latin: image, from Greek eidōlon, from eidos shape, form

Synonym Study

See image.

Example Sentences

More recently, the firm bought nearly half of the real-estate firm Howard Hughes, which Ackman has envisioned as a modern-day Berkshire Hathaway, referencing the company of his longtime idol, Warren Buffett.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"I'm a kid doing his hardest to be my dad because he's my idol and hero."

Read more on BBC

K-pop idols Le Sserafim recently told me they rehearse six hours every day, before fulfilling their other obligations in recording sessions, TV shows, and creating social media content.

Read more on BBC

Makowsky recalls shooting the only dialogue scene between Garfield and Guiteau, when the “greatest fan” finally gets to meet his idol.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Gold and silver plating of idols and temple figurines, mostly paid for by devotees, is common across temples in India.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.