1. a follower or priest of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine; a reveler or celebrant in Bacchic rites
Usage: often capitalized when referring to ancient Roman/Greek religious contexts; literary or classical reference
2. a person who engages in wild, drunken revelry or merrymaking
Usage: extended or figurative use

Examples

• The ancient bacchants danced through the streets during the festival of Dionysus.
• In classical art, bacchants are often depicted with ivy crowns and grape vines.
• The painting shows a group of bacchants celebrating the grape harvest with wine and music.
• Medieval writers sometimes used 'bacchant' to describe excessive drinkers and revelers.
• The bacchants in the play represent the chaos that follows unchecked indulgence.