cult
gb/kˈʌlt/ us/kˈʌlt/
B2
English
~ 8600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
small extreme religious group
A small religious group that many people think is strange or dangerous, and that strongly controls its members’ lives.
Usage pattern:
a cult led by [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “cult” to refer to any religion. In modern English, “cult” is usually negative and suggests a small, extreme, or harmful group, not just a normal religion. Also, do not confuse the noun “a cult” with the adjective use in “a cult film,” which is not about religion.
Synonyms
sect (Often used for a smaller group that has broken away from a larger religion; can sound slightly more neutral than “cult.”)
|
religious group (A broad term that does not include the strong negative and controlling meaning that “cult” usually has.)
Antonyms
mainstream religion (Refers to large, socially accepted religions, the opposite of a small extreme group labeled as a cult.)
Collocations
religious cult
|dangerous cult
|join a cult
|cult leader
|cult member
|escape from a cult
Themes
religion
|society
|relationships
Examples
- The documentary follows a woman who escaped from a dangerous cult.
- Authorities raided the cult’s compound after reports of abuse.
- His parents were terrified when they learned he had joined a religious cult.
- The group has been described as a doomsday cult that predicts the end of the world.
- Former cult members said they were cut off from their families and controlled in every aspect of life.
Learner examples
- She grew up in a cult and left when she was twenty.
- The man tried to recruit students into his cult.
- People said the group was a cult because it controlled its members.
- The police helped several people leave the cult.
- The movie shows how easy it is to fall into a cult.
Noun
C1
state
2
excessive admiration or worship
Very strong and often uncritical love and praise for someone or something, usually thought to be too much.
Usage pattern:
the cult of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use must be religious. In expressions like “cult of celebrity,” “cult” is not about religion but about very strong, often unhealthy admiration in society. It usually appears in the fixed pattern “the cult of [something].”
Synonyms
idolization (Stresses treating someone like an idol; often emotional and personal, while “cult” can also describe a wider social trend.)
|
worship (Can be religious or figurative; in non‑religious use it overlaps with “cult” but sounds more emotional and less sociological.)
Antonyms
skepticism (Implies questioning and doubt, the opposite of the uncritical admiration implied by a cult of something.)
Collocations
cult of celebrity
|cult of personality
|cult of success
|cult of productivity
|modern cult of fitness
|develop a cult of
Themes
society
|media
|emotions
|relationships
Examples
- Many critics blame the cult of celebrity for the public’s obsession with famous people’s private lives.
- The book explores the modern cult of productivity and constant work.
- Some voters were drawn in by the cult of personality around the young leader.
- There is a worrying cult of thinness in the fashion industry.
- He rejected the cult of success and chose a quieter, simpler life.
Learner examples
- The article talks about the cult of beauty in social media.
- Some people say there is a cult of money in modern society.
- The cult of celebrity makes young people want to be famous at any cost.
- There is a cult of youth, so older people often feel invisible.
- The writer criticizes the cult of work and long hours.
adjective
B2
property
3
having a small devoted fan base
Describes a movie, book, band, etc. that is not very popular with everyone, but has a small group of very loyal fans.
Usage pattern:
a cult [film/book/band/show]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think “cult film” means a film about a religious cult. In media and pop‑culture contexts, the adjective “cult” usually means it has a small but very loyal group of fans, not that the story is about religion.
Synonyms
niche (Suggests appealing to a small, specific audience; does not always include the strong loyalty implied by “cult.”)
|
underground (Emphasizes being outside the commercial mainstream; can also suggest secrecy or counterculture more than loyalty.)
Antonyms
mainstream (Describes something widely popular or accepted, not limited to a small devoted audience.)
Collocations
cult film
|cult movie
|cult classic
|cult following
|cult status
|cult favorite
Themes
media
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The low‑budget horror film slowly gained a cult following.
- Although it flopped in theaters, it later became a cult classic.
- The band has a cult status among indie rock fans.
- That director is a cult figure in science‑fiction cinema.
- The show never had huge ratings but is now a cult TV favorite.
Learner examples
- The movie was not a big hit, but it became a cult film.
- This singer has a small cult following online.
- The book is a cult classic among college students.
- That game has cult status with fans of old video games.
- The TV show is a cult favorite, but many people have never heard of it.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
system of worship and rituals
In history or religion, the set of worship practices and rituals for a particular god or holy person.
Usage pattern:
the cult of [deity/figure]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical historical sense with the modern negative sense of a “dangerous cult.” In academic writing about ancient or traditional religions, “cult” can be neutral and simply describe a system of worship and ritual.
Synonyms
worship (A general word for showing religious respect; does not always include the idea of an organized system like “cult” in this technical sense.)
Antonyms
secularism (The principle of keeping religion separate from public or state life, contrasting with organized systems of worship.)
Collocations
the cult of Isis
|imperial cult
|state cult
|ancient cult
|mystery cult
|cult center
Themes
religion
|history
Examples
- Archaeologists discovered a temple complex dedicated to the cult of a fertility goddess.
- The imperial cult played an important role in uniting the Roman Empire.
- Scholars still debate the exact nature of the mystery cults of ancient Greece.
- The city was a major center of the cult of Isis.
- In this period, the royal cult helped legitimize the king’s power.
Learner examples
- In ancient Rome, the emperor had his own cult.
- The cult of this god was strong in the city.
- Historians study the cult and rituals of the temple.
- The cult of the king showed that he was very powerful.
- A new ruler sometimes started a new cult of himself.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cult
IPA
GB/kˈʌlt/
US/kˈʌlt/
Syllables & stress
cult (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cult)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cult
- Plural: cults
Word family
Expressions
cargo cult
1/kˈɑɹɡoʊ kˈʌlt/
fixed phrase
technical
religious movement imitating outsiders
A type of religion where people copy the actions of more modern groups because they believe this will bring them material goods like those groups have.
Examples
- Anthropologists often discuss the cargo cults that developed after World War II.
- The term ‘cargo cult’ originally described movements in Melanesia.
- Some writers use ‘cargo cult’ as a metaphor for copying something without understanding it.
cult classic
1/kˈʌlt klˈæsɪk/
fixed phrase
beloved work with cult status
A movie, book, etc. that is not very popular with everyone but is loved very strongly by a small group of fans.
Examples
- The film was a box‑office failure but later became a cult classic.
- That 1980s comedy is now considered a cult classic.
- Many directors dream of making at least one cult classic in their career.
cult favorite
1/kˈʌlt fˈeɪvɚɪt/
fixed phrase
special favorite of devoted fans
Something that a small group of people likes very much, even if most people do not know it or like it.
Examples
- The restaurant is a cult favorite among food bloggers.
- This small indie game has become a cult favorite.
- The series is a cult favorite on streaming platforms.
cult figure
1/kˈʌlt fˈɪɡjɚ/
fixed phrase
person with intense niche fans
A person who is very important and special to a small group of fans, but not very famous to most people.
Examples
- The writer is a cult figure in experimental literature.
- Within underground hip‑hop, he became a cult figure.
- She remains a cult figure among horror‑movie fans.
cult film
1/kˈʌlt fˈɪlm/
fixed phrase
film with small devoted fans
A movie that a small group of people love very much, even if it is not popular with most people.
Examples
- It started as a low‑budget horror movie and later became a cult film.
- The director is best known for a 1990s cult film.
- Students often watch this cult film at midnight screenings.
cult following
1/kˈʌlt fˈɑloʊɪŋ/
fixed phrase
small but devoted fanbase
A small group of people who love something very much, even if it is not popular with most people.
Examples
- The show was canceled after one season but later developed a cult following.
- Over the years, the band has built a loyal cult following.
- The game never went mainstream, yet it enjoys a cult following among retro gamers.
cult hero
1/kˈʌlt hˈɪɹoʊ/
fixed phrase
hero to a small fanbase
Someone who is not very famous to most people, but is loved and admired very strongly by a small group of fans.
Examples
- The goalkeeper became a cult hero after saving three penalties in one game.
- Among comic‑book fans, the artist is a cult hero.
- She is a cult hero in the local music scene.
cult hit
1/kˈʌlt hˈɪt/
fixed phrase
modest work with cult success
A movie, show, song, etc. that is not a big success with everyone, but becomes very special to a small group of loyal fans.
Examples
- The series was a cult hit on late‑night television.
- Her first album was a cult hit before she became famous.
- The game turned into a cult hit thanks to word of mouth.
cult leader
1/kˈʌlt lˈidɚ/
fixed phrase
head of a cult group
The person who has the most power in a cult and tells the members what to do.
Examples
- The cult leader was arrested on fraud charges.
- Survivors described the cult leader as manipulative and controlling.
- The film tells the story of a charismatic cult leader in the 1970s.
cult member
1/kˈʌlt mˈɛmbɚ/
fixed phrase
person who belongs to a cult
Someone who belongs to a cult.
Examples
- Former cult members shared their experiences in an interview.
- Neighbors said they often saw cult members handing out flyers.
- The documentary follows several cult members over ten years.
cult movie
1/kˈʌlt mˈuvi/
fixed phrase
movie loved by niche fans
A movie that is loved strongly by a small group of fans, not by a big general audience.
Examples
- He directed several cult movies in the 1980s.
- The festival focuses on horror and sci‑fi cult movies.
- Over the years, the once‑forgotten thriller became a cult movie.
cult of personality
1/kˈʌlt əv pˌɚsənˈælɪti/
fixed phrase
exaggerated worship of a leader
A situation where a political leader is praised too much and shown as perfect, so people stop thinking critically about them.
Examples
- The dictator built a powerful cult of personality through constant propaganda.
- Historians describe the era as being dominated by a cult of personality.
- Critics warn that the leader’s growing cult of personality is dangerous for democracy.
cult status
1/kˈʌlt stˈætəs/
fixed phrase
state of having cult fans
The state of being loved by a small, very loyal group of fans instead of being popular with many people.
Examples
- Over time, the film achieved cult status.
- The album has gained cult status among electronic music fans.
- The novel slowly reached cult status through word of mouth.
cult TV show
1/kˈʌlt tˈi vˈi ʃˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
TV series with cult following
A TV show that only some people watch, but those people like it very much and are very loyal fans.
Examples
- The cult TV show was saved from cancellation by its passionate fans.
- She starred in a cult TV show that later moved to streaming.
- Many cult TV shows find new life online.
personality cult
1/pˌɚsənˈælɪti kˈʌlt/
fixed phrase
system based on leader worship
A political or social system where one leader is praised all the time and treated like a hero or god.
Examples
- Under the regime, a personality cult grew around the president.
- The party denied that it was creating a personality cult.
- Posters and songs about the leader helped build a personality cult.