exorcism

noun

ex·​or·​cism ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsi-zəm  -sər- 

1

: the act or practice of exorcising

2

: a spell or formula used in exorcising

exorcist

ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsist  -sər- 

-səst

noun

exorcistic

ˌek-ˌsȯr-ˈsi-stik  -sər- 

adjective

or exorcistical

ˌek-ˌsȯr-ˈsi-sti-kəl  -sər- 

Examples of exorcism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The film’s second half goes in for horror-movie shock effects when the ghost of a white nemesis haunts the Charles family — bringing back the terrors of slavery — and the talisman piano becomes an instrument of exorcism. —Armond White, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024

Grob is a lifelong Badgers fan, learned priest and exorcism expert The Milwaukee archdiocese covers Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha. —Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

Prologue is also backing The Root of All Evil, set up at Atomic Monster and Blumhouse, which is described as a psychological thriller based on former New York Times correspondent Ravi Somaiya’s work reporting on an exorcism in Mexico City. —Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024

Eventually, the girl’s desperate parents had no choice but to seek an exorcism. —Matthew Gabriele, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

exorcism

noun

ex·​or·​cism ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsiz-əm 

-sər-

: the act or practice of exorcising

exorcist

-ˌsist 

-səst

noun