witchcraft

noun

witch·​craft ˈwich-ˌkraft 

1

a

: the use of sorcery or magic

b

: communication with the devil or with a familiar

2

: an irresistible influence or fascination

3

a

: rituals and practices that incorporate belief in magic and that are associated especially with neo-pagan traditions and religions (such as Wicca)

Practitioners of Wicca … use the tools … such as the broom (a purifying symbol), the wand, candles, crystals and the knife …. They refer to their practices as witchcraft …

—Lesley Wright

b

or less commonly Witchcraft : a tradition or religion that involves the practice of witchcraft

Feminist witchcraft sees women's oppression and environmental abuse, which they argue are intimately linked, as firmly rooted in patriarchal religions.

—Wendy Griffin

Wicca, which emerged in the 1940s in England, is the original form of modern Pagan Witchcraft.

—Meg Yardley

Synonyms

• bewitchery
• bewitchment
• conjuring
• devilry
• deviltry
• diablerie
• enchantment
• ensorcellment
• magic
• mojo
• necromancy
• sorcery
• thaumaturgy
• voodooism
• witchery
• wizardry

Examples of witchcraft in a Sentence

taught all of her daughters witchcraft

Recent Examples on the Web

But new research suggests that one English woman convicted of witchcraft and condemned to be hanged may have escaped the noose. —Julia Buckley, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

He was tried for witchcraft, found guilty, and burnt at the stake. —Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2024

From the business of witchcraft on Etsy to the grim—and lucrative—reality of catastrophe bonds, our journalists have covered some disconcerting subjects in the past year. —Chris Dobstaff, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Nneka was unfortunately relegated to a one-season phenomenon, taking her shrine and witchcraft allegations out the door with her. —Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

witchcraft

noun

witch·​craft -ˌkraft 

: the use of sorcery or magic