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

Combine Queen’s Garden Trail with Navajo Loop Trail for a 3.5-mile loop that begins on the rim of the canyon, then drops into the belly, passing hoodoos, arches, and tall cliffs. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025

Navajo Loop Distance: 1.3 miles Elevation change: 515 feet Offering up some of the best views of Thor’s Hammer (the most famous hoodoo in the park), the Navajo Loop begins and ends at Sunset Point. —Emily Pennington, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Feb. 2023

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

Rhymes for hoodoo

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

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