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Meaning & use

fetish

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˈfetɪʃ/
US/ˈfetɪʃ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A strong, unusual sexual interest in a particular object or body part.

    Grammar: Countable: a fetish, fetishes. Often followed by 'for' or 'about'.

    Patterns

    • fetish for something
    • sexual fetish

    He has a fetish for leather boots.

    The therapist specializes in treating patients with unusual fetishes.

    Some people develop a fetish for specific materials like silk or rubber.

  2. nouncountabletechnicalspecialist

    An object that is believed to have magical or spiritual power, especially in certain traditional cultures.

    Grammar: Countable; often used in anthropological contexts.

    Patterns

    • magical fetish
    • fetish object

    The museum displayed fetishes used in religious rituals.

    In some cultures, a fetish is thought to protect its owner from harm.

    The anthropologist studied the role of fetishes in local ceremonies.

  3. nouncountabledisapproving

    An excessive and irrational devotion to or obsession with something.

    Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'make a fetish of'.

    Patterns

    • make a fetish of something

    He makes a fetish of punctuality, never arriving a minute late.

    The company has a fetish for efficiency, sometimes at the cost of quality.

    She has a fetish about cleanliness that borders on obsession.

Word forms

pluralfetishes

Common combinations

make a fetish of
He makes a fetish of healthy eating, refusing even a bite of cake.
sexual fetish
A sexual fetish can be a normal variation or a source of distress.
fetish object
The fetish object was kept in a special shrine.
foot fetish
A foot fetish is one of the most common types.

Synonyms and how they differ

obsession
A more general word for any strong preoccupation; it does not have the sexual or magical senses of fetish.
fixation
Similar to obsession but often used in psychology for an unhealthy focus.
idol
An object of worship, but not typically used for sexual interest.

Word family

fetishism noun
The practice of having a fetish, especially sexual or anthropological.
fetishist noun
A person who has a fetish.
fetishistic adjective
Relating to or characteristic of a fetish.

Commonly confused: fetish or fetishize?

fetish vs fetishize

Fetishize is a verb meaning to treat something with excessive or sexual devotion.

Practice

In which sentence does 'fetish' mean an object believed to have magical power?

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