One word substitution: Which term means a fanatical and uncompromising pursuit of ideals, often with extreme zeal?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks vocabulary related to attitudes and behaviour, particularly extreme devotion to beliefs. In social and political discussions, English often uses a special noun to describe people who push their ideals in a rigid and fanatical way, refusing any compromise. Knowing this word helps you understand newspaper articles, debates, and historical descriptions of movements.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Description: "Fanatical and uncompromising pursuit of ideals". - Options: Nonpartisan, Zealotry, Neutral, Aloof. - The key idea is extreme, fanatical pursuit, not calm or moderate behaviour.

Concept / Approach:
"Zealotry" is the noun that describes behaviour of a zealot, that is, someone who is excessively enthusiastic and fanatical about their beliefs or ideals. It usually has a negative tone in modern English. The other options describe political independence, lack of bias, or emotional distance, which do not match fanatical pursuit at all.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the adjectives in the description: "fanatical" and "uncompromising". Step 2: Recall that "zeal" means strong enthusiasm or passion, and "zealotry" is extreme zeal, often fanatical. Step 3: Compare with "nonpartisan", which means not supporting any particular side or party. Step 4: Compare with "neutral", which also suggests not taking sides. Step 5: Compare with "aloof", which means emotionally distant or uninvolved. Step 6: Only "zealotry" expresses extreme, uncompromising pursuit of ideals and fits the description exactly.

Verification / Alternative check:
Look at an example sentence: "Religious zealotry can lead to conflict when people refuse any compromise." Here "zealotry" clearly refers to fanatical devotion. Replacing it with "neutral" or "nonpartisan" would totally change the meaning and sound absurd. The dictionary sense of "zealotry" aligns very closely with "fanatical and uncompromising pursuit", confirming that this is the correct word.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nonpartisan means not aligned with any side, which is the opposite of fanatical commitment. Neutral also implies no strong support for any side, again conflicting with the idea of fanatical pursuit. Aloof describes someone who is cool, distant, or uninvolved, not passionately engaged.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think that any unfamiliar word must be the answer. However, in this set, "zealotry" is the only option that shares the root "zeal", a common word for strong enthusiasm. The others are relatively familiar adjectives about attitude. When dealing with one word substitutions, try to connect roots you recognise, such as "zeal", "partisan", or "neutral", to the meaning in the question.

Final Answer:
The best substitute for "fanatical and uncompromising pursuit of ideals" is zealotry.