Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

fanatic

/fəˈnæt.ɪk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.23 in modern English

Syllables: fa-nat-ic
IPA: /fəˈnæt.ɪk/

12

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

adj

Showing evidence of possession by a god or demon; frenzied, overzealous.

Obsolete

noun

A person who is zealously enthusiastic for some cause.

Example Sentences

"But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast / To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last."
"The reclusive tycoon calling himself the Illusive Man is a human nationalist focused on advancing human interests, whatever the cost to non-humans. The Citadel Council regards him as a fanatic posing a serious threat to galactic security."
"A zealot can't change his mind. A fanatic can't change his mind and won't change the subject. —Winston Churchill (attributed)"
"A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim. —George Santayana"

Etymology

First attested in 1525. Learned borrowing from Latin fānāticus (“of a temple, divinely inspired, frenzied”), from fānum (“temple”). Influenced by French fanatique.

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more fanatic (comparative) most fanatic (superlative) fanatick (alternative, obsolete) fanatics (plural)

Derived Forms

fanaticize nonfanatic ultrafanatic unfanatic antifanatic ecofanatic fan fanaticism Jonatic Lovatic Sinatratic

Frequently Paired Words

fan crank extremist

Synonyms

freak fanatical overzealous rabid fiend

Homonyms

phonetic phenetic (only in certain topolects with the met–mat merger)

Rhymes With

democratic dramatic automatic diplomatic static problematic systematic traumatic post-traumatic attic cinematic pragmatic

Questions

How do you pronounce fanatic?: The recorded pronunciation is /fəˈnæt.ɪk/.
What does fanatic mean?: Fanatical.
Where does fanatic come from?: First attested in 1525. Learned borrowing from Latin fānāticus (“of a temple, divinely inspired, frenzied”), from fānum (“temple”). Influenced by French fanatique.

How to pronounce fanatic

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “fanatic”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/fəˈnæt.ɪk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “fanatic”.
Repeat and practice — Say “fanatic” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.