Cult Meaning
/kʌlt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe veneration, devotion, and religious rites given to a deity (especially in a historical polytheistic context), or (in a Christian context) to a saint; a subset of worship.
nounA group of people having an obsession with or intense admiration for a particular activity, idea, person or thing.
Sentence Examples
That religious cult has got some pretty off the wall ideas.
In the religious-cult trial, the ambitious lawyer will represent the cult leader.
The film is now a cult classic.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The group was considered a dangerous ____ by local authorities.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
That religious ____ has got some pretty off the wall ideas.
Word Origin & History
Derived from French culte, from Latin cultus (“care, adoration; cult”), from colō (“cultivate; protect”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""When frying sausages," remarked Cripps, who seemed to regard that occupation as a cult, "it is advisable to perforate the outer skin with a fork.""
— 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 44:
"By the end of the tenth century, Edith's humility had inspired a cult of holy wells in Kent, Staffordshire, and Herefordshire."
— 1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 170:
"Werner Erhard's highly successful est cult is partly derived from Scientology. Erhard had some experience with Scientology in 1969. Then he worked for a while in Mind Dynamics, itself an offshoot of Jose Silva's Mind Control."
— 1985, Rodney Stark, Religious movements: Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers, Paragon House Publishers, →ISBN, page 167:
"There are scores of modern religious cults and sects that have been influenced by Hinduism to varying degrees. Werner Erhard, founder of 'Landmark Education's 'The Forum',' and 'est' seminars, which have about 700,000 graduates, was influenced by Hinduism through Swami Muktananda, one of Erhard's principal gurus."
— 1996, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, Harvest House Publishers, →ISBN, page 216:
"Outsiders often criticize the extreme commitment of group members. But what is really happening is that leader and followers are conspiring to realize a vision that is falsified daily. For the cult is not paradise, and the leader is not God. Hence the follower is embattled; to squarely confront the many failings of the leader and the group is to call into question one's own great work. Only by daily recommitting himself can the follower continue to work toward his ultimate goal. Each follower works out a secret compromise, acknowledging some things while denying or distorting others. Clearly this is a high-risk strategy that may go awry."
— 1997, Len Oakes, “Followers and Their Quest”, in Prophetic charisma: The Psychology of Prophetic Charisma, Syracuse University Press, →ISBN, page 137:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The group was considered a dangerous ____ by local authorities.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
That religious ____ has got some pretty off the wall ideas.