fanatic

[ fuh-nat-ik ]

noun

1. a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics.

   Synonyms: militant, hothead, bigot, zealot, enthusiast

adjective

1. fanatical.

fanatic

/ fəˈnætɪk /

noun

1. a person whose enthusiasm or zeal for something is extreme or beyond normal limits
2. informal.
   a person devoted to a particular hobby or pastime; fan

   a jazz fanatic

adjective

1. a variant of fanatical

Other Words From

• nonfa·natic noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fanatic¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin fānāticus “pertaining to a temple, inspired by a divinity, frantic,” equivalent to fānum “temple” + -āticus, equivalent to -āt(us) -ate ¹ + -icus -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of fanatic¹

C16: from Latin fānāticus belonging to a temple, hence, inspired by a god, frenzied, from fānum temple

Synonym Study

Fanatic, zealot, militant, devotee refer to persons showing more than ordinary support for, adherence to, or interest in a cause, point of view, or activity. Fanatic and zealot both suggest excessive or overweening devotion to a cause or belief. Fanatic further implies unbalanced or obsessive behavior: a wild-eyed fanatic. Zealot, only slightly less unfavorable in implication than fanatic, implies single-minded partisanship: a tireless zealot for tax reform. Militant stresses vigorous, aggressive support for or opposition to a plan or ideal and suggests a combative stance. Devotee is a milder term than any of the foregoing, suggesting enthusiasm but not to the exclusion of other interests or possible points of view: a jazz devotee.

Related Words

• addict
• bigot
• devotee
• enthusiast
• extremist
• fiend
• freak
• maniac
• militant
• nut
• radical
• visionary
• zealot