idolatry

noun

idol·​a·​try ī-ˈdä-lə-trē How to pronounce idolatry (audio)
plural idolatries
1
: the worship of a physical object as a god
2
: immoderate attachment or devotion to something

Examples of idolatry in a Sentence

fans of the team are well known for their idolatry of the quarterback
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Empathy rather than the idolatry of power will actually make our nation strong. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025 Miracle workers, moreover, often become the subjects of so much popular devotion that their authority can begin to approach idolatry or rival that of the Church itself. Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 Then there’s Rumi’s crush on Mrs. Malcolm, which includes several Mary Kay Letourneau jokes and initial idolatry of Vili Fualaau. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 But as a Christian, the bigger threat in the U.S. now seems to be Evangelical idolatry—this tendency of many Christians to turn a political candidate into an idol, particularly one who has proven himself so thoroughly unfit as Donald Trump. Donovan McAbee, TIME, 28 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for idolatry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ydolatrie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin idolatria, alteration of Late Latin idololatria, from Greek eidōlolatreia, from eidōlon idol + -latreia -latry

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of idolatry was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Idolatry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idolatry. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

idolatry

noun
idol·​a·​try ī-ˈdäl-ə-trē How to pronounce idolatry (audio)
plural idolatries
1
: the worship of an idol as a god
2
: very great attachment or devotion to something

More from Merriam-Webster on idolatry

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