cultist
cultist Lexical Profile
cultist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A member or devoted follower of a religious, spiritual, or ideological cult, especially one viewed as unorthodox, ekstremist, or overly controlling.
"The documentary interviewed a former cultist who spent ten years living in an isolated compound before escaping."
An enthusiastic or obsessive admirer of a particular person, trend, artistic movement, or cultural phenomenon.
"Every midnight screening of the classic sci-fi film draws a crowd of dedicated cultists dressed as their favorite characters."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term 'cultist' carries strong pejorative connotations and is rarely used by members of a group to describe themselves; in academic sociology and religious studies, neutral terms such as 'adherent' or 'member of a new religious movement' are preferred.
• Rhymes for cultist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 19th century from 'cult' (from Latin 'cultus', meaning 'care, cultivation, or worship', derived from 'colere', 'to till or inhabit') and the suffix '-ist'.