noun
-
a person filled with or motivated by enthusiasm; fanatic
-
archaic a religious visionary, esp one whose zeal for religion is extravagant or unbalanced
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of enthusiast
First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek enthousiastḗs “inspired person, possessed person,” from enthousí(a) “possession by a god” ( see enthusiasm) + -astēs -ast ( def. ) (variant of -istēs -ist after i )
Explanation
When you're an enthusiast, you're all jazzed up about a person or cause. A sports enthusiast is someone who is really passionate and excited about sports. Enthusiast comes from the Greek enthousiastēs, meaning "person inspired by a god." While it doesn't retain those same religious connotations today, an enthusiast is someone who is inspired by a cause or person. A candidate running for office will have a group of enthusiasts working doggedly on his campaign. Often your mother is your biggest enthusiast or supporter. Non-profit organizations are always looking for enthusiasts who can make donations and become patrons of their organization.
Vocabulary lists containing enthusiast
This Week In Culture: November 9–15, 2019
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Mexikid
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The former heavyweight champion was an avid automobile enthusiast, and the garage offers enough room for a collection of more than 50 cars.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
Randy Policar, a dedicated Disney enthusiast, said he follows a few Disney-focused influencers to learn what’s going on at the parks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
"This was supposed to be pristine forest forever," sighs the golf enthusiast.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
Glyn, an animal enthusiast, was "glad to be coming" and also remarked on the "sad incident".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Give them to your son. You’ve got birthdays and Christmases taken care of for a couple of years with all this. It’s good stuff any motorcycle enthusiast would love.”
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
With its scenic vistas and clear alpine waters, South Lake Tahoe long has been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, vacationers and wealthy Californians looking for a reprieve from city life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
Fitness enthusiasts will also have access to strength-training equipment, cardio facilities, yoga and barre offerings, squash, and personalized training services.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
Several hundred cars could be seen at the popular attraction on Friday morning, with many young families and wildlife enthusiasts carrying cameras heading in.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
On a Discord messaging channel, and in online chat rooms across the internet, AI enthusiasts and professional researchers have been looking everywhere for evidence that AI agents have escaped from their labs and wrought havoc.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
The eastern woods teemed with flora unknown to the Old World, and there was a huge eagerness, from scientists and amateur enthusiasts alike, to get a piece of it.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
