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A Brief History of Fetish
When fetish first appeared in English in the early 17th century, it referred to objects (often amulets) believed by certain West Africans to have supernatural powers. During the 19th century, the word took on a broader meaning: "an object of irrational devotion or reverence." The object need not be physical: a person may have a fetish for an idea, such as an unwarranted belief that a particular economic system will solve society’s ills. By the early 20th century, fetish took on yet another meaning quite distinct from its antecedents: a sexualized desire for an object (such as a shoe) or for a body part that is not directly related to the reproductive act (such as an earlobe).
Synonyms
Examples of fetish in a Sentence
Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
While Monica and Stephen were getting to know each other in the pods, Stephen confessed to a history of cheating, but didn’t admit to having any kinks or fetishes.
—Myisha Battle, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
Scorpio Black Moon Lilith in Scorpio leans into their fetishes and does not hold back.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
That state of affairs has diluted asceticism from the actual, if difficult, rejection of indulgence into a fetish for that abstinence.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fetish 
Dictionary Entries Near fetish
Cite this Entry
“Fetish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetish. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
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fetish
noun
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