adherent
Americannoun
adjective
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
Explanation
Because an adherent is usually something or someone that sticks to something or someone else, it's logical that it can also mean a person who believes in and supports a certain philosophy or leader. An adherent to a cause can be called a disciple, one who believes and tries to get others to believe. It can also refer to a material that sticks to other things. While the first meaning comes from the 15th century, the reference to a sticky substance didn't emerge until the 16th. In all cases, the word comes from the Latin root haerēre "stick," connected to the prefix ad- "to," making the word mean "to stick to."
Vocabulary lists containing adherent
Things Fall Apart
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Between the World and Me
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The Islamic World and South Asia, Lessons 3–5
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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.
Abdulmohsen -- a critic of Islam and an adherent of far-right views and radical conspiracy theories -- faces life in prison if convicted.
From Barron's • Nov. 18, 2025
"Having an effective injectable that is only needed twice annually is very significant for people who have trouble accessing healthcare or staying adherent to daily, oral pills."
From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2024
Mr. Biden won Georgia by about 12,000 votes, and its Muslim adherent population is around 123,000.
From Washington Times • Nov. 2, 2023
Neither can the “typical” patient being deemed adherent or nonadherent be accepted as the final version of truth; the inequities in care must be accounted for.
From Scientific American • Sep. 12, 2023
I watched him closely that night, and to me it seemed he was trying to live in both worlds, to be a loyal adherent to all creeds.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
