Jump To:

• zealot
  zealot

  noun

  a person who shows zeal.
• Zealot
  Zealot

  noun

  any of the members of an extreme Jewish sect or political party that resisted all aspects of Roman rule in Palestine in the 1st century _ad

zealot

American  

[zel-uht] / ˈzɛl ət /

noun

• zealots
  plural

1. a person who shows zeal.

2. an excessively zealous person; fanatic.

   Synonyms:

   bigot, crank, extremist

3. (initial capital letter) a member of a radical, warlike, ardently patriotic group of Jews in Judea, particularly prominent from a.d. 69 to 81, advocating the violent overthrow of Roman rule and vigorously resisting the efforts of the Romans and their supporters to heathenize the Jews.

---

Zealot ¹ British  

/ ˈzɛlət /

noun

1. any of the members of an extreme Jewish sect or political party that resisted all aspects of Roman rule in Palestine in the 1st century _ad

---

zealot ² British  

/ ˈzɛlət /

noun

1. an immoderate, fanatical, or extremely zealous adherent to a cause, esp a religious one

---

Synonym Usage

See fanatic.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underzealot
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• zealots
  plural

Etymology

Origin of zealot

First recorded in 1400–50; earlier zelote from Late Latin zēlōtēs, from Greek zēlṓtēs, equivalent to zēlō- (variant stem of zēloûn “to be zealous”; see zeal) + -tēs agent suffix

Explanation

The hamburger zealot was so fanatical about his burgers that he camped outside his favorite fast-food joint for hours every morning, waiting for it to open. And he would never put mustard on them, only ketchup. The original zealots were a group of first-century Jews who were absolutely determined to overthrow Roman rule in Palestine. Today, anyone who goes overboard in their zeal, or enthusiasm, for a particular cause, a religion, a sports team, or a charitable organization — can be called a zealot. The coffee lover was a zealot regarding where his coffee was grown, who grew it, and how it was roasted.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zealot Zealot zealots

He was an anti-authority zealot, made recently rich, with an axe to grind.

From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026

On top of that list was Aunt Lydia, the ruthless zealot in charge of the handmaids, played so powerfully by Ann Dowd.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2025

If you were trying to turn a lay fan into a Caitlin Clark zealot, I don’t know that Saturday’s game would have been the first one you showed them.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 23, 2024

Mr. Rowe long plotted his escape even as he portrayed himself to peers as a zealot of Kim’s rule.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 6, 2023

Ishmael’s grandfather had been a Highland Presbyterian, his grandmother an Irish zealot from the bogs above Lough Ree; they met in Seattle five years before the Great Fire, wed, and raised six sons.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Zealot R.I.P. performs on Sept. 22 at D.C.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 14, 2021

Without taking sides, it tells the story of the civil war largely through the eyes of a young Zealot motivated less by religious fanaticism than by disgust over social injustice and corruption.

From New York Times ● Sep. 11, 2021

He calls himself the Turfgrass Zealot and has a stock speech about his successes.

From Golf Digest ● Sep. 25, 2019

In the TV movie "Masada," when the Romans are near destroying the previously thought impenetrable wall protecting the Jews, one Zealot wishes aloud for more time to make it stronger.

From US News ● Nov. 19, 2015

"We can overcome them if we have to," said the Zealot impatiently.

From Men Called Him Master by Elwyn A. (Elwyn Allen) Smith

For TV producers, it's long been tempting to invite two self-righteous zealots into a studio to bellow at each other.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026

The U.S. built the post-war world around rules—not because we are zealots about law, but because rules have helped us.

From Barron's ● Jan. 5, 2026

Still, the ubiquity, complexity and accountability tax filing requires make it a good litmus test of the AI zealots and doomsayers’ beliefs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 21, 2025

Although a few zealots took issue with Dever’s selection, she lends the right proportion of jaggedness and focus to a complicated figure that needs to sustain our interest for the long term.

From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2025

All men of talent, whether they be men of feeling or not; whether they be zealots, or aspirants, or despots—provided only they be sincere—have their sublime moments, when they subdue and rule.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• die-hard
• extremist
• fanatic
• militant
• radical