Crossword Genius

Zealot is in fact a criminal (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fanatic

'zealot' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'in fact a criminal' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates anagramming the letters.
'in'+'fact'+'a'='infacta'
'infacta' with letters rearranged gives 'FANATIC'.

'is' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for fanatic that I've seen before include "Devotee beyond reason" , "Obsessive enthusiast" , "One motivated by irrational enthusiasm" , "Extreme enthusiast" , "enthusiastic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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