idol

noun

ˈī-dᵊl 

1

: an object of extreme devotion

a movie idol

also : ideal sense 2

2

: a representation or symbol of an object of worship

broadly : a false god

3

a

: a likeness of something

b

obsolete : pretender, impostor

4

: a false conception : fallacy

5

: a form or appearance visible but without substance

an enchanted phantom, a lifeless idol

—P. B. Shelley

Synonyms

• god
• hero
• icon
• ikon

Examples of idol in a Sentence

an actor who is the idol of millions

a movie star whose portrayal of a comic book superhero in a blockbuster series has made him the idol of millions

Recent Examples on the Web

The song is kind of a warning about the consumerism and idol worshipping of society. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 1 Feb. 2025

Meanwhile in Mexico, Netflix teased a series about the late Mexican singing idol Juan Gabriel, directed by seasoned documentary helmer María José Cuevas. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025

The pair briefly reconciled before filing for divorce a second time in 2020. 04 of 12 Donnie Wahlberg (C. Carwood Lipton) Former teen idol Donnie Wahlberg played the stoic, gritty Lieutenant Carwood Lipton. —Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2025

After all, her older brother Chris — known professionally as Bang Chan — is the leader of the popular idol group Stray Kids, whose Ate sold more CDs in the U.S. last year than any album but Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, according to Luminate. —Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French idle, from Late Latin idolum, from Greek eidōlon image, idol; akin to Greek eidos form — more at idyll

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing idol

• fallen idol
• matinee idol

Kids Definition

idol

noun

ˈid-ᵊl 

1

: an image worshipped as a god

2

: a greatly loved and admired person or thing