# idolatry

/aɪˈdɑɫətɹi/ (US) · /aɪdˈɒlətɹˌi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/idolatry
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

the act of worshiping a person or thing as if they were a god. It can also mean having an extremely high level of respect or admiration for someone.

For teachers: the worship of a person or thing as a deity; the excessive veneration of a person or object. Often used metaphorically to describe intense, almost religious devotion to a celebrity or a specific belief.

## Examples

- The fans showed their idolatry for the famous singer.
- The philosopher criticized the idolatry of the new technology, arguing that people were treating it as a god rather than a tool.
- While the early church sought to eliminate idolatry from public life, modern secular societies often face a different form of the same problem in the form of consumerist worship.

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