idolatrous

/aɪˈdɒlətrəs/

//aɪˈdɒlətrəs// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"idolatrous" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“idolatrous” is uncommon English (frequency #79,616 among 17,902 “I” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#79,616
frequency rank, English
17,902
“I” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Partaking in idolatry; worshipping idols or false gods.

Key facts for idolatrous
PropertyValue
Headwordidolatrous
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/aɪˈdɒlətrəs/
Letters10
Frequency rank#79,616
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “idolatrous” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). idolatrous lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

idolatrous is uncommon English at frequency #79,616 among 17,902 “I” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /aɪˈdɒlətrəs/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for idolatrous, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From idolatry + -ous. The correct English form is idolatrous, spelled I-D-O-L-A-T-R-O-U-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Partaking in idolatry; worshipping idols or false gods.
  2. 2
    Engaging in excessive attachment or reverence; inordinately or profanely devoted.
  3. 3
    Used in or designed for idolatry; devoted to idols or idol-worship.
  4. 4
    Of or pertaining to idolatry.

Etymology

From idolatry + -ous.

This word in other languages

idólatra(Español)idolâtre(Français)abgöttisch(Deutsch)idólatra(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "idolatrous"?
"idolatrous" is spelled I-D-O-L-A-T-R-O-U-S. The IPA pronunciation is /aɪˈdɒlətrəs/.
What does "idolatrous" mean?
As an adjective, "idolatrous" means: Partaking in idolatry; worshipping idols or false gods.
How do you pronounce "idolatrous"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "idolatrous" is /aɪˈdɒlətrəs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "idolatrous"?
From idolatry + -ous. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “idolatrous”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is I-D-O-L-A-T-R-O-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /aɪˈdɒlətrəs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list