From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpersonality cultpersonˈality ˌcult (also cult of personality) noun [countable] PPa situation in which people are encouraged to admire and praise a famous person, especially a political leader – used to show disapproval
Examples from the Corpus
personality cult• But at no time is this conditioning of mild hysteria and personality cult a wholesome thing.• I don't agree with people who say it was just a leadership personality cult effort.• However, Nyerere was said to be personally opposed to this kind of personality cult, and eventually the policy was changed.• Propping up the world's most enduring dictator is a slavish personality cult, and rigid control of the nation.• The Sicilian tyrants did not, however, take the personality cult as far as the successors of Alexander.• Mr Koizumi is the centre of a virtual personality cult in his homeland, with support ratings of almost 90 %. 