amulet

noun

am·​u·​let ˈam-yə-lət 

: a charm (such as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to aid the wearer or protect against evil (such as disease or witchcraft)

Synonyms

• charm
• fetish
• fetich
• mascot
• mojo
• periapt
• phylactery
• talisman

Examples of amulet in a Sentence

a small cross made of goat bone was worn in the Middle Ages as an amulet to ward off evil

Recent Examples on the Web

Discovery: On a hike with her family, a 3-year-old stumbled across a 3,800-year-old Egyptian amulet. —Justin Porter, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

On Tuesday, April 2, the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed in a Facebook post that three-year-old Ziv Nitzan of Ramot Meir found a 3,800-year-old scarab amulet during a family trip to Tel Azekah, Israel in March. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Most inscriptions from similar amulets at the time used Greek or Roman. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported on Monday that 3-year-old Ziv Nitzan came across a 3,800-year-old Canaanite amulet back in March. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin amulētum, of obscure origin

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

amulet

noun

am·​u·​let ˈam-yə-lət 

: a small object worn as a charm against evil