fetish
9 synonyms for fetish, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An object believed to hold magical or spiritual power.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use fetish
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sexual fetish
make a fetish of something
Etymology
From French fétiche, from Portuguese feitiço ("charm, sorcery"), ultimately from Latin factīcius ("artificial") — the same root as factitious.
Full origin of fetish →Frequently asked questions
What does “fetish” mean?
The word “fetish” means an object believed to hold magical or spiritual power.
How do you pronounce “fetish”?
“Fetish” is pronounced FEHT-ihsh (/ˈfɛt.ɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fetish” in a sentence?
Here is “fetish” used in a sentence: “The carved figure was treated as a fetish believed to ward off illness.”
What part of speech is “fetish”?
“Fetish” is a noun.
Where does the word “fetish” come from?
The word “fetish” comes from Latin. From French fétiche, from Portuguese feitiço ("charm, sorcery"), ultimately from Latin factīcius ("artificial") — the same root as factitious.
Is “fetish” a common word?
“Fetish” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fetish” have?
“Fetish” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an object believed to hold magical or spiritual power.
What does it mean to make a fetish of something?
To make a fetish of something means to treat it with an excessive or irrational obsession, giving it more importance or ritual attention than it warrants. This usage draws on the word's original sense of an object imbued with special power.
