exorcism

1 of 2

noun (1)

ex·​or·​cism ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsi-zəm  -sər- 

1

: the act or practice of exorcising

2

: a spell or formula used in exorcising

exorcist

ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsist  -sər- 

-səst

noun

exorcistic

ˌek-ˌsȯr-ˈsi-stik  -sər- 

adjective

or exorcistical

ˌek-ˌsȯr-ˈsi-sti-kəl  -sər- 

exorcist

2 of 2

noun (2)

ex·​or·​cist

-sə̇st

plural -s

1

: one who exorcises or conjures evil spirits

2

a

: a member of a minor order in the early Christian church

b

: the second highest office of the minor orders in the Roman Catholic Church ranking immediately below that of acolyte

Examples of exorcism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s a spirit of exorcism in this approach, an implicit belief that certain loud sounds are more like elemental beings to be summoned than the logical result of wires and inputs. — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026

But the trauma of their defeat in the final match of the 1950 World Cup to Uruguay was such that a change was necessary, like a sort of sartorial exorcism. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026

The Transference Theory This is a cousin of the exorcism theory. — Ravi Gupta, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026

Religious leaders may use prayer, pastoral counseling, and even exorcism as conversion practices. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English exorciste, from Late Latin exorcista, from Greek exorkistēs, from exorkizein

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for exorcism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism

Kids Definition

exorcism

noun

ex·​or·​cism ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsiz-əm 

-sər-

: the act or practice of exorcising

exorcist

-ˌsist 

-səst

noun