enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈthü-zē-ˌast 

-əst,

en-,

 also  -ˈthyü-

: a person filled with enthusiasm: such as

a

: one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit

a sports car enthusiast

b

: one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest

Synonyms

• addict
• aficionado
• afficionado
• buff
• bug
• devotee
• fan
• fanatic
• fancier
• fiend
• fool
• freak
• habitué
• habitue
• head
• hound
• junkie
• junky
• lover
• maniac
• maven
• mavin
• nut
• sucker

Examples of enthusiast in a Sentence

skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season

Recent Examples on the Web

Amazon has so many after-Christmas deals happening right now for campers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. —Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024

Whatever your nonfiction area of interest happens to be — serial killers, cult leaders, athletes, con men or exotic animal enthusiasts — there’s probably several dozen documentaries available for viewing a few button-clicks away. —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024

There's never been a better time to be a small-displacement adventure motorcycle enthusiast – the industry is responding to the energy in this segment with some terrific new machines. —New Atlas, 25 Dec. 2024

Century Girl Vintage Die-hard vintage enthusiasts shouldn’t miss out on this Lower Garden District shop, which sources rare garments from several eras in fashion all around the world (everything from ethereal 1930s chiffon gowns to Moschino and Miu Miu). —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "person claiming to receive divine communication or inspiration, member of a putative early Christian sect making such claims," borrowed from Late Greek enthousiastḗs, going back to Greek, "person possessed by a god," from enthousiad-, stem of enthousiázein "to be inspired or possessed by a god" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at enthusiasm

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈth(y)ü-zē-ˌast 

-əst

: a person filled with enthusiasm