fe·tish·ism
ˈfe-ti-ˌshi-zəm
also ˈfē-
variants
or less commonly fetichism
1
: belief in or use of spiritual fetishes
2
: extravagant irrational devotion
3
: the pathological displacement of erotic interest and satisfaction to a fetish
fet·ish·is·tic
variants
or less commonly fetichistic
or less commonly fetishic
¦fe|t|i¦shistik,
|t|,
|ē¦sh-,
-istēk also ¦fē| or ¦fā|
feˈtishik,
fēˈ-,
fāˈ-,
-shēk
1
: of, belonging to, or characterized by fetishism
2
a
: invested with extraphysical or symbolic significance
fetishistic objects gathered in shrines
the injection had become a fetishistic symbol—Wenzell Brown
b
: marked by fixed irrational regard
its fetishistic veneration for education—D. S. Savage
a fetishistic response to women's shoes
Cite this Entry
“Fetishism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetishism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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