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 of witchcraft

• sorcery
• magic

Examples of witchcraft in a Sentence

taught all of her daughters witchcraft

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike standard comforters, this one is specifically intended to cool you down at night, which sounds like witchcraft to me in the best way. —Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026

Now, though, with the widespread circulation of magic manuals, grimoires, and related compendia—with the recording, on paper, of words, spells, histories, stories—witchcraft has taken an irreversible step into the exoteric realm. —Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Johnson did, reportedly, resort to witchcraft—a protection spell over the restaurant, and a curse on Aghajanian. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026

Lang plays the antagonist, a bitter Alpine waiter whose family recipe for Grappa involves alchemy and witchcraft. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for witchcraft

• abaft
• aircraft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• downdraft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft
• schoolcraft
• spacecraft
• stagecraft
• statecraft

Kids Definition

witchcraft

noun

witch·​craft -ˌkraft 

: the use of sorcery or magic