cult

IPA/kʌlt/
KK[kˈʌlt]IPA/kʌlt/

cult — noun

  • cultsingular
  • cultsplural

1. an organised group in which members hold unconventional religious views, often i

1.nounB2
Definition

an organised group in which members hold unconventional religious views, often isolating themselves from ordinary society and submitting to a dominant leader

Example

Investigators found that the cult had controlled every aspect of its members' daily lives.

passive reporting structure with controlled + aspect of

After living in the cult for ten years, Tanvi struggled to adjust to life outside.

Common collocations
  • cult leader
  • cult member
  • join a cult
  • leave a cult
  • cult compound
  • cult recruitment
Synonyms
  • sect

    less emotionally charged than cult; used for smaller groups that split from a larger religion

  • religious group

    completely neutral, no negative connotation

  • movement

    broader term that may or may not imply extreme beliefs

Usage Note

This sense carries a strongly negative judgment and is rarely used by members of the group themselves — they would call their group a church, a community, or a spiritual movement instead.

Common Mistakes

The cult of Scientology has many famous members.
The Church of Scientology has many famous members.
'cult' is a label used by outsiders; referring to a specific group by its own name is more respectful and accurate.

2. the set of ceremonies, rituals, and forms of worship devoted to a single deity,

2.nounC1
Definition

the set of ceremonies, rituals, and forms of worship devoted to a single deity, a group of ancestors, or a sacred concept within a particular religion

Example

Students in the anthropology class studied the cult of the moon goddess in ancient Mesopotamia.

collocation: cult of [deity] for religious-worship sense

The book examines how the cult of the emperor developed in the early Roman Empire.

Common collocations
  • cult of [deity]
  • ancestor cult
  • sun cult
  • moon cult
  • mystery cult
  • imperial cult
Synonyms
  • worship

    broader term; focuses on the act rather than the system

  • rite

    refers to a specific ceremony, not the entire system

  • devotion

    emphasises personal dedication rather than organised practice

Grammar Patterns

cult of + [deity/ruler/concept]

Usage Note

This is a neutral, scholarly use of the word. It describes traditional or historical religious practices — ancestor worship, imperial cults, mystery cults — without the negative judgment of sense 1. Commonly appears in anthropology, history, and religious studies texts.

3. a person, object, or concept that attracts intense and loyal interest among a sp

3.nounB2
Definition

a person, object, or concept that attracts intense and loyal interest among a specific audience, remaining outside the mainstream of general popularity

Example

The director's first film developed a cult following among science-fiction fans around the world.

collocation: develop a cult following

What started as a small cult of devoted readers grew into an international bestseller.

Common collocations
  • cult following
  • cult status
  • cult of personality
  • develop a cult
  • cult audience
  • cult reputation
Synonyms
  • following

    less intense than cult; simply means a group of fans or supporters

  • devotees

    emphasises personal dedication; often used for spiritual or artistic figures

  • fandom

    modern term for a community of fans, especially of media or celebrities

Grammar Patterns

cult of [person/thing]

cult following

cult status

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this meaning has a neutral or even positive tone — it describes passionate fans, not a controlling group. Common in phrases like 'cult film', 'cult classic', 'cult following', and 'cult of personality'.

Common Mistakes

The movie had a cult.
The movie had a cult following.
'cult' alone for this sense is rare; use 'cult following' or 'cult status' for natural English.

cult — adjective

Word family

  • cultic
    adjectiveC1
  • cultish
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

Cult, fad, craze, and trend all describe things that people become enthusiastic about, but they differ in duration and intensity. A cult following implies long-term, deep loyalty from a relatively small group — fans of a cult film may remain devoted for decades. A fad is short-lived and often superficial: think of a fashion that vanishes after a single season. A craze is intense but temporary excitement shared by many people at once, like a dance craze that sweeps through high schools for a few months. A trend is the broadest term, describing a general direction of change in behaviour or taste. While a trend can last for years, it lacks the emotional intensity of a cult. For example: 'The band never had a mainstream hit, but it developed a cult following that kept it touring for thirty years.'

cult ↗fad ↗craze ↗trend ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • cult following
  • cult status
  • cult classic
  • cult film
  • cult show
  • cult band

Phrases

  • cult of personality
  • cult of celebrity

Prepositions

  • cult of
  • cult among
  • cult in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Cult comes from the Latin noun 'cultus', meaning 'care, cultivation, worship'. 'Cultus' itself comes from the verb 'colere' — 'to till the ground, to cultivate, to take care of, to honour'. In Latin, 'cultus deorum' meant 'the worship of the gods'. English borrowed the word in the early 1600s to describe formal religious worship. By the 1800s, the word had developed a second meaning describing intense devotion to a person or thing — first used for celebrity worship, then for niche fan communities around films, books, and music.