fetishism

/ˈfɛtɪʃɪzəm/
noun
  1. An excessive, irrational, or obsessive devotion or attachment to an object, activity, or idea.
    • Some critics argue that modern society has a fetishism for new technology, always wanting the latest gadget.
    • His fetishism for order meant every book on his shelf had to be arranged by color and height.
    • The collector's fetishism for rare stamps led him to spend his entire savings on a single piece.
  2. The belief in or worship of objects thought to have magical or spiritual powers.
    • Early explorers often misunderstood the local fetishism as simple superstition.
    • The study of fetishism in anthropology reveals how objects can carry deep cultural meaning.
    • The tribe's fetishism involved carving small figures to represent their ancestors.
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