zealot

IPA/ˈzelət/
KK[zˈɛlət]IPA/ˈzelət/

zealot — noun

  • zealotsingular
  • zealotsplural

1. someone who holds extreme beliefs, especially about religion or politics, and ac

1.nounB2
Definition

someone who holds extreme beliefs, especially about religion or politics, and actively tries to persuade or force other people to share those beliefs

Example

Emma's father was a religious zealot who would not let anyone hold different beliefs.

religious zealot + restrictive relative clause

Political zealots made it impossible for the two sides to reach any agreement.

political zealots + collocation: on both sides

Common collocations
  • religious zealot
  • political zealot
  • zealot for [a cause]
  • zealot of [a movement]
Synonyms
  • fanatic

    more emotional and irrational; can be used for sports or hobbies, not just ideology

  • extremist

    focuses on the radical nature of the beliefs themselves rather than the missionary drive

  • militant

    suggests readiness to fight or use forceful methods for a cause

  • devotee

    milder and often neutral; describes dedication without the aggressive edge

Antonyms
  • moderate

    someone with balanced, non-extreme views

  • skeptic

    someone who doubts or questions rather than believing strongly

Grammar Patterns

zealot + for/about [something]

zealot + in [something]

Usage Note

Almost always used disapprovingly. The word suggests not only strong belief but also aggressive or impatient attempts to convert others.

Common Mistakes

He is a zealot for classical music and goes to concerts often.
He is a zealot for classical music who scolds anyone who prefers pop.
'zealot' implies actively pushing beliefs onto others, not just having strong interests.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Zealot, fanatic, extremist, militant, and devotee all describe someone with strong beliefs, but they differ in intensity and scope. A zealot holds extreme views and actively tries to convert others, often with an aggressive or impatient tone. Fanatic suggests excessive, sometimes irrational enthusiasm that can apply to religion, politics, or hobbies ('a football fanatic'), and it can be used playfully. Extremist focuses on the content of the beliefs themselves — views far outside the mainstream, especially in politics ('a political extremist'). Militant implies a willingness to fight or take confrontational action for one's cause ('militant activist'). Devotee is the mildest of the group, simply describing a dedicated enthusiast without negative judgment ('a devotee of traditional jazz'). Unlike zealot, both fanatic and devotee can be neutral or affectionate in informal conversation.

fanatic ↗extremist ↗militant ↗devotee ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • zealot on the issue of
  • zealot in the cause of

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Zealot comes from the Greek word zēlōtēs (ζηλωτής), meaning 'an emulator' or 'a zealous follower', which in turn comes from zēlos (ζῆλος), meaning 'zeal, ardor, or jealousy'. The term entered English through Latin zelotes and later Old French zelote. The word is historically linked to the Zealots, a Jewish political movement in the 1st century AD that fiercely opposed Roman rule in Judea.

First known use

1537

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2