Definition
Extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone; worship of idols or excessive devotion that borders on worship. Idolatry implies an unhealthy or inappropriate level of veneration.
Etymology
From Greek 'eidololatreia,' combining 'eidolon' (image or idol) and 'latreia' (worship or service). Originally referred to the worship of physical images or statues of gods, but expanded to mean any excessive devotion to material things or people.
Kelly Says
Break it down as 'IDOL-atry'—like being a fanatic fan of an idol! While veneration is deep respect, idolatry crosses the line into obsessive worship that can blind you to flaws and reality.
Translations
ARالعربية
عبادة الأصنام
ʿi.bā.dah al.ʾaṣ.nām
BNবাংলা
মূর্তি পূজা
mūrti pūjā
CACatalà
idolatria
i.do.la.tri.a
CSČeština
modlářství
mo.dlá.řství
DADansk
avgudsdyrkelse
ɑv.ɡu.dɡs.dy.rk.else
DEDeutsch
Götzendienst
ɡœ.tsen.di.ənst
ELΕλληνικά
ειδωλολατρία
e.i.ðo.la.tri.a
ESEspañol
idolatría
i.do.la.tri.a
FAفارسی
بتپرستی
bot parasti
FISuomi
epäjumalanpalvelus
e.pä.ju.mal.an.pal.velus
FRFrançais
idolâtrie
i.do.la.tri
GUGU
મૂર્તિ પૂજા
mūrti pūjā
HEעברית
עבודת אלילים
ʿa.vo.dat e.li.lim
HIहिन्दी
मूर्ति पूजा
mūrti pūjā
HUMagyar
bálványimádat
bál.vány.i.má.dat
IDBahasa Indonesia
penyembahan berhala
pe.nya.mba.han ber.ha.la
IGIG
ịbụ ọdịnala
i.bu o.di.na.la
ITItaliano
idolatria
i.do.la.tri.a
KKKK
идолопоклонство
i.do.lo.poklon.stvo
KMKM
ការគោរពរូបសំណាក
kār kɔr rɔp rūp sɑm.nɑk
KO한국어
우상숭배
u-sang-sung-bae
MRMR
मूर्ती पूजा
mūrtī pūjā
MSBahasa Melayu
penyembahan berhala
pe.nya.mba.han ber.ha.la
MYမြန်မာ
ရုပ်ပူဇော်ခြင်း
ru.pu.jau.seang
NLNederlands
afgoderij
ɑɣɡo.de.ri
NONorsk
avgudsdyrking
ɑv.ɡu.dɡs.dy.rking
PAPA
ਮੂਰਤੀ ਪੂਜਾ
mūratī pūjā
PLPolski
bałwochwalstwo
baw.wo.xwal.stwo
PTPortuguês
idolatria
i.do.la.tri.a
RORomână
idolatrie
i.do.la.tri.e
RUРусский
идолопоклонство
i.do.lo.poklon.stvo
SVSvenska
avgudadyrkan
ɑv.ɡu.da.dy.rkan
SWKiswahili
ubakaji
u.ba.kaji
TAதமிழ்
சிலை வழிபாடு
cilai vazhipāṭu
TEతెలుగు
విగ్రహారాధన
vigrāhārādhana
THไทย
การบูชารูปเคารพ
kār būchā rūp kheraph
TLTL
pagsamba sa mga idolo
pag.sam.ba sa mga i.do.lo
TRTürkçe
putperestlik
pu.tpe.res.tlik
UKУкраїнська
ідолопоклонство
i.do.lo.poklon.stvo
URاردو
بت پرستی
bu.t par.sti
VITiếng Việt
sự thờ cúng hình tượng
sự thơ cúng hình tượng
ZH中文
偶像崇拜
ǒu xiàng chóng bài
ZUZU
ukuthembisa
u.ku.the.mbi.sa
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Religious and philosophical critique of idolatry has historically targeted feminine imagery and goddess worship, framing them as primitive or misguided while treating masculine god-forms as universal. Enlightenment thinkers used 'idolatry' to denigrate non-Western and women-centered spiritual traditions.
Inclusive Usage
Use without gendered application. Avoid weaponizing the term against specific gender presentations or non-dominant spiritual traditions.
Inclusive Alternatives
["veneration","excessive devotion","over-valuation"]
Empowerment Note
Feminist theology and goddess-centered spiritualities have reclaimed sacred feminine imagery against historical dismissal as 'mere idolatry.'