What does deified mean?
"Deified" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "deify," meaning to treat someone or something as a god, whether literally or figuratively. In its original religious sense, it describes the formal elevation of mortals to divine rank — ancient Roman emperors were famously deified by decree of the Senate, and Egyptian pharaohs were revered as living gods. In modern usage, the word more often appears figuratively, describing people who are admired so intensely that they seem almost worshipped: celebrities, athletes, founders, and cultural icons are frequently said to be deified by devoted fans or followers. The word carries connotations of extreme, sometimes uncritical reverence, and it can imply that such devotion is excessive or misplaced. Related forms include "deify" and "deification."
Worshipped or treated as a god; regarded or admired with excessive reverence.
"The philosopher was deified by later generations of disciples."
Almost always used passively or attributively.
Elevated to divine status or accorded godlike reverence.
"The temple housed statues of the deified emperor."
Roman emperors weren't just praised — they were officially made gods by Senate decree, a process literally called deification.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deified
"Deified" derives from the Latin deus, meaning "god." The verb "deify" entered English in the late medieval period from Late Latin deificare, itself formed from Latin deus combined with the verb-forming suffix -ficare (to make). Cognates sharing the same root include "divine," "divinity," and "deity," all tracing back to the same Indo-European root for god. It has been used in English since at least the early modern period.
Related word forms
How deified is actually used
The literal religious sense applies to figures formally declared or treated as gods, as in ancient Rome. The figurative sense describes intense but secular admiration, often with a hint of exaggeration or criticism of blind devotion. Commonly used in the passive voice.
Easily confused with deified
"Defied" means openly resisted or refused to obey, while "deified" means treated as a god or revered excessively.