Word
fanatic
Phoneticsfa·nat·ic, stress on the second syllable
US/fəˈnætɪk/
UK/fɐnˈætɪk/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who has extremely strong beliefs or interests that other people might find too much. You use this for people who are obsessed with a hobby or a religion.
n. a person motivated by excessive enthusiasm and often uncritical devotion, particularly regarding religious or political matters. In modern usage, it frequently describes someone with an intense interest in a specific hobby or pursuit.
Examples
“My brother is a real fitness fanatic who works out every day.”
“The movie star was followed everywhere by a group of fanatics who had waited hours just to see him.”
Examples
simple
“My brother is a real fitness fanatic who works out every day.”
contextual
“The movie star was followed everywhere by a group of fanatics who had waited hours just to see him.”
Usage
Often used with a modifying noun to specify the area of interest, such as 'sports fanatic' or 'health fanatic'.
Real-World Examples
“A self-described coffee fanatic, Sonis followed the lead of her husband Ethan, who launched an athletic training business in 2018.” “But for some restaurant fans, casual appreciation is simply not enough — especially when we’re talking about chain restaurants. There’s an entire subgenre of dining fanatics who really, really love a specific chain, and are willing to go to great lengths to demonstrate their loyalty.” “Referring to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Mark Meadows, President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff, called the rioters “a handful of fanatics,” while a recent piece in Slate invites us to “Meet the Trump Fanatics Who Have Taken Over Elections in a Critical Swing State.” “The psycho stalker fan is its own archetype—Robert De Niro’s Rupert Pupkin, in “The King of Comedy,” or Kathy Bates in “Misery,” based on the 1987 Stephen King thriller, about a romance-novel fanatic named Annie Wilkes, who kidnaps her favorite author and makes him tailor his latest novel to her liking.” Etymology
First attested in 1525. Learned borrowing from Latin fānāticus (“of a temple, divinely inspired, frenzied”), from fānum (“temple”). Influenced by French fanatique.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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