The term idol (from Latin idolum: image, form) is used in various contexts:

• In religion, man-made worshipped articles are idols; their worship is called idolatry.

• Popular celebrities are commonly known as idols, especially when "worshipped" by teenages. See teen idol.

• Pop Idol and American Idol are television series that give formerly unknown persons an opportunity to become stars.

• In Japan, idols are highly promoted teenage girls whose singing and posing draws large fan audiences, satisfied by numerous merchandise articles. See Japanese idol. This is essentially the same thing as the popular celebrities listing above.

• In philosophy, Francis Bacon introduced the term "idol" to describe various obstacles humans face when trying to truly understand nature. Friedrich Nietzsche in Twilight of the Idols sees idols as abstract unchanging philosophical concepts that need to be swept away to allow for true life to emerge.

• Billy Idol, rock star [1]