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

Buy Now 'The Women Could Fly' by Megan Giddings This genre-bending story takes place in a world where witchcraft is real, and women are required to marry by age 30 ... or else be monitored for the rest of their lives. —Veronica Roth, Peoplemag, 18 June 2024

The collection was inspired in part by witchcraft and artist Keith Haring’s code of magic symbols, according to Christie’s. —Amarachi Orie, CNN, 14 June 2024

By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK published 11 June 2024 Africans living with dementia are often accused of witchcraft, with potentially devastating consequences. —Harriet Marsden, theweek, 11 June 2024

That’s pretty damn deep for some Cabbage Patch Kids that are possessed by witchcraft. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Feb. 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