black magic

noun

: magic that is associated with the devil or with evil spirits : evil magic
He wore a special necklace to protect against black magic.

Examples of black magic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web High priests from around the area came to the island to cleanse it of black magic. Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023 Everyone has different opinions on curses, um, and black magic or dark magic. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2023 Two men were incarcerated for stealing human skulls from a cemetery in central Florida in 2021, according to local reports, which said the body parts were intended for use in black magic rituals. Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2023 Watch Now 11 Rickety rides, funhouses that aren’t fun, black magic: the carnival can be a terrifying place. Deanna Janes, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Aug. 2023 This is a magic club in Salem, a city long associated with witches, black magic, and the occult. Billy Baker, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2023 But that other 5 percent, the black magic of ride and handling, interior quality, brake feel—the more subjective stuff—is what defines great cars. Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 17 May 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black magic was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near black magic

Cite this Entry

“Black magic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20magic. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!