noun
enthusiast; zealot; fanatic
Refers to a person who is passionately devoted to a cause, hobby, or activity. Can range from positive enthusiasm to excessive fanaticism depending on context.
彼は熱狂的なサッカーファンで、まさに熱狂者だ。
He is a passionate soccer fan, truly an enthusiast.
その政治家の熱狂者たちは、選挙運動に全力を注いだ。
The politician's zealots devoted themselves entirely to the campaign.
A loanword often used for hobby enthusiasts (e.g., 鉄道マニア). 熱狂者 is more formal and can imply stronger, sometimes ideological, fervor.
Compound of 熱狂 (nekkyō, 'wild enthusiasm') + 者 (sha, 'person'). The reading ねっきょう reflects a common gemination (促音便) from ねつきょう.