WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fet•ish /ˈfɛtɪʃ, ˈfitɪʃ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
fet•ish•ist, n. [countable]
fet•ish•is•tic, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Anthropologyan object regarded as having magical power;
talisman. - any object, idea, etc., that one gives reverence or devotion to;
obsession:The town makes a fetish of soccer.
fet•ish•ist, n. [countable]
fet•ish•is•tic, adj.
fet•ish
(fet′ish, fē′tish),USA pronunciation n.
fet′ish•like′, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Anthropologyan object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.
- any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion:to make a fetish of high grades.
- Psychologyany object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation.
- Portuguese, as above
- Latin factīcius factitious; replacing fatisso, fetisso
- Portuguese feitiço charm, sorcery (noun, nominal), artificial (adjective, adjectival)
- earlier fateish 1605–15
- 1. talisman, amulet.
fet•ish•ism
(fet′i shiz′əm, fē′ti-),USA pronunciation n.
fet′ish•ist, n.
fet′ish•is′tic, adj.
fet′ish•is′ti•cal•ly, adv.
- Anthropology, Religionbelief in or use of fetishes.
- Psychiatrythe compulsive use of some object, or part of the body, as a stimulus in the course of attaining sexual gratification, as a shoe, a lock of hair, or underclothes.
- blind devotion:a fetishism of sacrifice to one's children.
- fetish + -ism 1795–1805
fet′ish•is′tic, adj.
fet′ish•is′ti•cal•ly, adv.