noun

zealot

ZEHL-uht

noun

Someone so committed to a cause or belief that they pursue it with extreme, often unreasonable intensity.

"The reform movement was hijacked by a handful of zealots."

"He argued like a zealot, refusing to accept any counterpoint."

Historically, a member of a Jewish political movement in first-century Judea that violently resisted Roman rule.

"The Zealots led the revolt against Roman occupation in 66 CE."

How to Use Zealot

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone whose devotion to a cause tips into fanaticism.

Common mistake

Almost always carries a negative or critical tone — calling someone a zealot is rarely a compliment.

Common pairings

religious zealot political zealot a zealot for the cause

Word Forms

zealots plural

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The reform movement was hijacked by a handful of _____.

Etymology

From Greek zēlōtēs ("zealous follower"), from zēlos ("zeal"); originally the name for a fierce anti-Roman Jewish faction before it became a general word for any fanatic.