shaman

noun

sha·​man ˈshä-mən How to pronounce shaman (audio)
ˈshā-,
 also  shə-ˈmän
plural shamans
1
: a priest or priestess who uses magic for the purpose of curing the sick, divining the hidden, and controlling events
2
: one who resembles a shaman
especially : high priest sense 3
shamanic
shə-ˈma-nik How to pronounce shaman (audio)
-ˈmä-
adjective

Examples of shaman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Born and raised in Costa Rica, Adriana has studied global ancestral healing traditions alongside master herbalists and shamans for nearly 15 years. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 If the young shaman can exorcise three great spirits who refuse to move on, then Kalunga would return his Baba back to Zau. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024 At Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica, the Rite of the Womb ritual, based on initiation traditions of Amazonian and Andean shamans, is offered to women who are pregnant, entering menopause, or have had hysterectomies. Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024 The game, set to launch April 23, follows a young shaman, Zau, who has made a deal with the god of death to bring his father back to life in exchange for three great spirits. Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024 Another standout aspect: The spa has lots of interesting practitioners, including joy coaches, traditional numerology shamans and dance teachers, and a resident Balinese spiritual healer who can guide you in a customary practice in the privacy of his own home. Annie Daly, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 In real life, the Malaysian factory workers weren’t fully responsive to the Western treatments — like Valium — that their employers put forward, reacting more positively to the services of a shaman, who performed an exorcism to rid them of their maladies. Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 For one thing, Morrisseau almost always signed works with his shaman’s name, Copper Thunderbird, in Cree syllabics on the front—never illegibly on the back of the painting, never in English and certainly never with a copyright symbol. Jordan Michael Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 The show begins with the mystical Rafiki, the spirit shaman who is outside the story, but will interject herself at a crucial period when a confused Simba — in his befuddled, wandering phase — is finding his way. Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shaman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Evenki (Tungusic language of Siberia) šamān

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shaman was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near shaman

Cite this Entry

“Shaman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaman. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

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