worshiper

Worshiper, or worshipper, is a person who engages in acts of worship directed toward a deity, deities, sacred objects, or ideals. The term stems from the verb worship; the -er suffix marks a person who performs the action. In American English the form "worshiper" is common, while "worshipper" is usual in British English.

In religious contexts, worshipers participate in rituals, prayers, songs, offerings, and meditative or contemplative activities. They may worship communally in churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, or other sacred spaces, or privately in the home or in nature. Worship often expresses reverence, adoration, gratitude, confession, supplication, or praise, and can be directed toward a single God in monotheistic traditions or toward multiple gods and spirits in polytheistic ones. The experience is influenced by liturgy, doctrine, sacred music, symbols, and the timing and place of worship. While worship is closely associated with religious communities, individuals may engage in personal devotion outside formal services. Clergy, ritual leaders, and lay participants may all play roles in organizing or guiding worship, but a worshiper is defined by active participation rather than by rank.

Secular usage also applies the term, describing intense admiration or idolization of a person, idea, or object, even when not religiously connected. This broad sense underlines how the concept of worship encompasses both formal ritual and personal devotion, across cultures and contexts.