demonology

noun

de·​mon·​ol·​o·​gy ˌdē-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē 

1

: the study of demons or evil spirits

2

: belief in demons : a doctrine of evil spirits

3

: a catalog of enemies

… the liberal creed at that time put Big Business in a central place in its demonology …

—Carl Kaysen

demonological

ˌdē-mə-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

demonologist

ˌdē-mə-ˈnä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of demonology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its central plot remains conventional, and its demonology — including a hokey expansion involving the mysterious Cult of the Wise Men — routinely functions more as a set piece than as a serious mystery. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026

One critic has gone so far as to call Moby-Dick a study in demonology. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026

The film was co-written and co-directed by Kang over a seven-year period, set entirely in Korea and featuring Korean demonology and mythology. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 15 Mar. 2026

At least, that’s the impression given by the Liber Revelationum, a book of demonology written by Abbot Richalm of Schöntal. — JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

demon + -o- + -logy

Note: Word introduced by King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) in his Daemonologie, in forme of a Dialogue, diuided into three bookes (Edinburgh, 1597). New Latin daemonologia occurs commonly in the 17th century, but is apparently not attested earlier than King James' dissertation in English.

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for demonology

• aetiology
• anthropology
• archaeology
• archeology
• audiology
• cardiology
• climatology
• cohomology
• cosmetology
• criminology
• dermatology
• egyptology