cult
cult — noun
1. an organised group in which members hold unconventional religious views, often i
an organised group in which members hold unconventional religious views, often isolating themselves from ordinary society and submitting to a dominant leader
Investigators found that the cult had controlled every aspect of its members' daily lives.
passive reporting structure with controlled + aspect of
After living in the cult for ten years, Tanvi struggled to adjust to life outside.
Local authorities received reports about a new cult recruiting young people near the university.
Many former members of the cult described the same pattern of isolation from their families.
The community worried when Ramón's sister joined an isolated cult in the mountains.
- sect
less emotionally charged than cult; used for smaller groups that split from a larger religion
- religious group
completely neutral, no negative connotation
- movement
broader term that may or may not imply extreme beliefs
用法筆記
This sense carries a strongly negative judgment and is rarely used by members of the group themselves — they would call their group a church, a community, or a spiritual movement instead.
常見錯誤
2. the set of ceremonies, rituals, and forms of worship devoted to a single deity,
the set of ceremonies, rituals, and forms of worship devoted to a single deity, a group of ancestors, or a sacred concept within a particular religion
Students in the anthropology class studied the cult of the moon goddess in ancient Mesopotamia.
collocation: cult of [deity] for religious-worship sense
The book examines how the cult of the emperor developed in the early Roman Empire.
Archaeologists discovered evidence of a sun cult practised by the pre-Columbian civilisation.
In many ancient societies, the cult of a local deity involved seasonal festivals and offerings.
Temples across the region were sites of an elaborate ancestor cult that lasted for centuries.
文法句型
cult of + [deity/ruler/concept]
用法筆記
This is a neutral, scholarly use of the word. It describes traditional or historical religious practices — ancestor worship, imperial cults, mystery cults — without the negative judgment of sense 1. Commonly appears in anthropology, history, and religious studies texts.
3. a person, object, or concept that attracts intense and loyal interest among a sp
a person, object, or concept that attracts intense and loyal interest among a specific audience, remaining outside the mainstream of general popularity
The director's first film developed a cult following among science-fiction fans around the world.
collocation: develop a cult following
What started as a small cult of devoted readers grew into an international bestseller.
That 1980s band still has a loyal cult audience that attends every reunion show.
The book achieved cult status among teenagers, who pass copies to friends.
Felipe's cooking blog never went mainstream but gained a cult audience among vegans.
文法句型
cult of [person/thing]
cult following
cult status
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this meaning has a neutral or even positive tone — it describes passionate fans, not a controlling group. Common in phrases like 'cult film', 'cult classic', 'cult following', and 'cult of personality'.
常見錯誤
cult — adjective
1. referring to a film, book, TV programme, musician, or item that a small number o
referring to a film, book, TV programme, musician, or item that a small number of people adore with lasting dedication, even though it never achieved wide recognition or commercial success
The 1990s film became a cult classic after fans started organising midnight screenings.
collocation: cult classic
Rachel recommends a cult TV series from Japan that only fifty thousand people have seen.
The game failed commercially at launch but gained a cult reputation among strategy gamers.
Élise's novels never appeared on bestseller lists, yet they have a dedicated cult readership.
That cult sci-fi show from the 1970s still inspires fan conventions every year.
- niche
focuses on the small audience size rather than their devotion
- underground
suggests something exists outside mainstream awareness, often with a rebellious edge
- alternative
broader term; describes anything outside the mainstream without implying intense loyalty
文法句型
cult + [noun]
用法筆記
This adjective is almost always placed directly before a noun (attributive use). Common combinations include 'cult film', 'cult classic', 'cult TV show', 'cult band', and 'cult following' (though 'following' is a noun, the adjective 'cult' modifies it).