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

This may be due to long-standing superstitions linking them with bad luck or witchcraft. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025

Story sequences explore his family, superstitions, and untimely fate. —Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Today, many migraine sufferers take upward of four medications to try and stay ahead of the pain—and that doesn’t include home remedies or preventive superstitions. —Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025

Arik has been supplying MLB players with custom necklaces and gemstone-laden chains for 20 years and chalks the new trend up to superstition as much as style. —India Brown, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 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