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Synonyms

adherent

American  
[ad-heer-uhnt, -her-] / ædˈhɪər ənt, -ˈhɛr- /

noun

  1. a person who follows or upholds a leader, cause, etc.; supporter; follower.

    Synonyms:
    fan, devotee, disciple

adjective

  1. sticking; clinging; adhering.

    an adherent substance.

  2. bound by contract or other formal agreement.

    the nations adherent to the Geneva Convention.

  3. Biology. adnate.

  4. Grammar. standing before and modifying a noun; attributive.

adherent British  
/ ədˈhɪərənt /

noun

  1. (usually foll by of) a supporter or follower

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. sticking, holding fast, or attached

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See follower.

Other Word Forms

  • adherently adverb
  • nonadherent adjective
  • preadherent adjective
  • preadherently adverb

Etymology

Origin of adherent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin adhērent-, from Latin adhaerent-, stem of adhaerēns “sticking to,” present participle of adhaerēre “to stick to”; equivalent to adhere + -ent

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.

The Buddha -- who renounced material wealth to embrace and preach a life of non-attachment -- founded a religion that now has more than 500 million adherents.

From Barron's

About 30% of Americans consider themselves adherents to its ideas, or are sympathetic to them, according to a different survey by PRRI.

From Los Angeles Times

Islamic leaders have a pastoral responsibility to protect their adherents from corruption and radicalization, to keep the wolves from the flock.

From The Wall Street Journal

The philosophic movements that emerged soon after Diogenes’ time, Stoicism and Epicureanism, aimed to help adherents overcome the fear of death.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some adherents advise parents that the disturbing effects indicate that the treatment is working, ridding the body of impurities, or that the parents should alter the dosage.

From Salon