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

In the late 1600s, Tituba, an enslaved Indigenous woman of probable Central American background purchased by Puritan minister Samuel Parris in Barbados, became the first woman accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025

Bram Stoker’s original 1897 novel begins around Walpurgisnacht, a European springtime festival often associated with spirits and witchcraft. —Mike Calia, NBC News, 24 Dec. 2024

Snape is the cruel but complex potions master at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, played by Alan Rickman in all seven Harry Potter films. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Franklin’s immediate ancestors grew up in a world where the fear of witchcraft led to tragic consequences. —Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

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