noun
Uncommon
fetish
FEHT-ihsh
Fetish (noun) means an object believed to hold magical or spiritual power. Example: “The carved figure was treated as a fetish believed to ward off illness.”
noun
1
An object believed to hold magical or spiritual power.
"The carved figure was treated as a fetish believed to ward off illness."
2
A strong, often sexual, fixation on a particular object or body part.
"He has a fetish for leather boots."
3
An excessive or irrational obsession with something.
"She makes a fetish of punctuality, arriving twenty minutes early to everything."
How to use fetish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn object of magical belief, or an intense fixation — often sexual — on one particular thing.
Common pairings
sexual fetish
make a fetish of something
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Word forms
- Plural
- fetishes
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The carved figure was treated as a _____ believed to ward off illness.
Etymology
From French fétiche, from Portuguese feitiço ("charm, sorcery"), ultimately from Latin factīcius ("artificial") — the same root as factitious.
Related words
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.
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