hoodoo

1 of 2

noun

hoo·​doo ˈhü-(ˌ)dü 

plural hoodoos

1

: a body of practices of sympathetic magic traditional especially among African Americans in the southern U.S.

2

: a natural column of rock in western North America often in fantastic form

3

: something that brings bad luck

4

: nonsense, hokum

hoodooism

ˈhü-(ˌ)dü-ˌi-zəm 

noun

hoodoo

2 of 2

verb

hoodooed; hoodooing; hoodoos

transitive verb

: to cast a spell on

broadly : to bring bad luck to

Examples of hoodoo in a Sentence

Noun

some economists have characterized the proposal as economic hoodoo that should be hooted down

some hoodoo must be at work—I lost both sets of house keys

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rocky Mountaineer Rocky Mountaineer offers luxury train journeys through some of North America’s most spectacular scenery, from the mountain passes and plunging canyons of Canada to the far-reaching deserts and hoodoos of the US. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

Amid the otherworldly hoodoos, and at 8,000 feet, Sunset Point shows off dramatic views of Bryce Canyon’s main amphitheater. —Brittany Anas, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024

Verb

Take two days to experience the best of the Paunsaugunt Plateau’s hoodoo rock spires. —Jonathan Olivier, Outside Online, 10 Oct. 2022

It’s made with Agave de Cortes, King State espresso, hoodoo, and cinnamon. —Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps alteration of voodoo

First Known Use

Noun

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1868, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hoodoo

noun

hoo·​doo

ˈhüd-ü

plural hoodoos

1

: voodooism sense 1

2

: something that brings bad luck

hoodoo verb

hoodooism

-ˌiz-əm

noun

Etymology

Noun

perhaps an altered form of voodoo