Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun cargo_cult

2 senses of cargo cult

Sense 1
cargo cult -- ((Melanesia) the followers of one of several millenarian cults that believe salvation will come in the form of wealth (`cargo') brought by westerners; some ascribe divine attributes to westerners on first contact (especially to missionaries))
       => cult -- (followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader)

Sense 2
cargo cult -- (a religious cult that anticipates a time of joy, serenity, and justice when salvation comes)
       => cult, cultus, religious cult -- (a system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin")