enthusiast

[ en-thoo-zee-ast, -ist ]

noun

1. a person who is filled with enthusiasm for some principle, pursuit, etc.; a person of ardent zeal:

   a sports enthusiast.

   Synonyms: fan, devotee, zealot

2. a religious visionary or fanatic.

enthusiast

/ ɪnˈθjuːzɪˌæst /

noun

1. a person filled with or motivated by enthusiasm; fanatic
2. archaic.
   a religious visionary, esp one whose zeal for religion is extravagant or unbalanced

Other Words From

• anti·en·thusi·ast noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of enthusiast¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek enthousiastḗs “inspired person, possessed person,” from enthousí(a) “possession by a god” ( enthusiasm ) + -astēs -ast ( def ) (variant of -istēs -ist after i )

Example Sentences

It’s the morning after the Dodgers won the World Series, and Schur — a baseball enthusiast with undying loyalty to the Boston Red Sox — is detailing the team’s extraordinary comeback in the fifth inning of Game 5 against the New York Yankees as a curious Ted Danson listens intently.

From Los Angeles Times

The core group includes the rebellious but highly competent Beckett Mariner, the over-eager and by-the-books Brad Boimler, the optimistic space pirate-turned-science enthusiast D’Vana Tendi and the happy-go-lucky engineering prodigy Sam Rutherford.

From Los Angeles Times

Tech billionaire and crypto enthusiast Elon Musk also denied he was behind the cryptocurrency after a former employee at one of his firms, SpaceX, suggested it.

From BBC

He is, though, an enthusiast of spectacular, offensive football, with lots of goals, domination and control.

From BBC

For the latest episode of BBC Radio 4’s Why Do You Hate Me USA, I’ve been investigating how one pop-inclined meme enthusiast Irene Kim - the co-founder of Swifties for Kamala - found herself transformed from superfan to political strategist.

From BBC

Related Words

• addict
• admirer
• aficionado
• believer
• buff
• devotee
• fan
• fanatic
• follower
• lover
• participant
• supporter
• zealot