superstition

noun

su·​per·​sti·​tion ˌsü-pər-ˈsti-shən 

1

a

: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation

b

: an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition

2

: a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

Examples of superstition in a Sentence

It is a common superstition that a black cat crossing your path is bad luck.

tales of superstition, witchcraft, and magic

Recent Examples on the Web

Whether driven by personal expression, cultural significance, superstition or legacy, most athletes have meaningful reasons for choosing their jersey numbers. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 May 2025

The Fed must jettison its prosperity-causes-inflation superstition and commit, in plain English, to a stable dollar. —Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

After all, this is a sport full of old habits and superstitions. —Gary Phillips, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2025

The national folks who’ve hung on Hurley’s every word, delighted in each new superstition revealed, had flocked elsewhere. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English supersticion, from Anglo-French, from Latin superstition-, superstitio, from superstit-, superstes standing over (as witness or survivor), from super- + stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for superstition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

superstition

noun

su·​per·​sti·​tion ˌsü-pər-ˈstish-ən 

1

: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic

2

: an unreasoning fear of nature, the unknown, or God resulting from superstition