medicine man

noun

plural medicine men

: a healer especially among Indigenous American groups who uses various traditional methods (such as magical rituals, magical objects, and medicinal plants) to treat illnesses and keep away evil spirits : shaman

Examples of medicine man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Costner cast Greene as real-life Lakota Sioux medicine man Kicking Bird in the film, a epic Western adapted from Michael Blake’s novel. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025

To today's ear, the elixirs, potions and tonics sold at Haag sound like a traveling medicine man’s inventory: Swamp root, Danderine, Sloan’s Liniment, Catarrh Jelly, Wine of Cardue. —Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

The dance began a century ago when an Ojibwe medicine man’s granddaughter fell sick. —Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Throughout the ceremony's four days of observances and events, the young woman is guided and advised by her medicine man. —Alejandra Rubio, NPR, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for medicine man

• artilleryman
• afghan
• bedpan
• began
• caveman
• chapin
• crankpin
• cyan
• deadpan
• dextran
• divan
• doorman

Kids Definition

medicine man

noun

: a person especially among members of Indigenous American tribes that is believed to have magic powers that can cure illnesses and keep away evil spirits by potions and charms