cult

Noun
  1. Followers of an exclusive system of beliefs and practices (synset 108168497)
    is a type of: faith, organized religion, religion - an institution to express belief in a divine power
    subtypes:
    • macumba - (Brazil) followers of a religious cult of African origin
    • obeah, obi - (West Indies) followers of a religious system involving witchcraft and sorcery
    • rastafarian - (Ethiopia) adherents of an African religion that regards Ras Tafari as divine
    • voodoo - (Haiti) followers of a religion that involves witchcraft and animistic deities
    • rastafari, rastas - (Jamaica) a Black youth subculture and religious movement that arose in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1950s; males grow hair in long dreadlocks and wear woolen caps; use marijuana and listen to reggae music
    • wicca - a community of followers of the Wicca religion
    member holonym: cultist - a member of a religious cult
  2. An interest followed with exaggerated zeal (synset 105759170)
    "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season"
    is a type of: fashion - the latest and most admired style in clothes and cosmetics and behavior
    same as: craze, fad, furor, furore, rage
  3. Followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader (synset 108168236)
    is a type of: faith, organized religion, religion - an institution to express belief in a divine power
    subtypes: cargo cult - (Melanesia) the followers of one of several millenarian cults that believe salvation will come in the form of wealth (`cargo') brought by westerners; some ascribe divine attributes to westerners on first contact (especially to missionaries)
    member holonym: cultist - a member of an unorthodox cult who generally lives outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader
  4. A religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false (synset 105957404)
    "it was a satanic cult"
    is a type of: faith, religion, religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
  5. A system of religious beliefs and rituals (synset 105957131)
    "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin"
    is a type of: faith, religion, religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
    subtypes:
    • cargo cult - a religious cult that anticipates a time of joy, serenity, and justice when salvation comes
    • macumba - a Brazilian religious cult of African origin; combines voodoo elements with singing and chanting and dancing
    • obeah, obi - a religious belief of African origin involving witchcraft and sorcery; practiced in parts of the West Indies and tropical Americas
    • rastafarianism - a religious cult based on a belief that Ras Tafari (Haile Selassie) is the Messiah and that Africa (especially Ethiopia) is the Promised Land
    • hoodooism, vodoun, voodoo, voodooism - a religious cult practiced chiefly in Caribbean countries (especially Haiti); involves witchcraft and animistic deities
    same as: cultus, religious cult

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