incubus

noun

in·​cu·​bus ˈiŋ-kyə-bəs 

ˈin-

plural incubi ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbī  -ˌbē 

ˈin-

also incubuses

1

: an evil spirit that lies on persons in their sleep

especially : one that has sexual intercourse with women while they are sleeping compare succubus

2

: nightmare sense 2

3

: one that oppresses or burdens like a nightmare

Examples of incubus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Devil’s Museum, a satellite of the main collection, has amassed more than 3,000 depictions of demons, evil spirits and incubus from around the world. — Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Your fame sits beside you like an incubus, and people are embarrassed and want to leave the room. — Candace Bushnell, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2025

This meaning is visualized in Henry Fuseli’s 1781 painting The Nightmare, which shows a woman sleeping peacefully on a couch while a nauseating monster—an incubus—sits portentously on her abdomen, unbeknownst to her. — Time, 28 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin incubare

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

incubus

noun

in·​cu·​bus ˈiŋ-kyə-bəs 

ˈin-

plural incubi -ˌbī 

-ˌbē

also incubuses

1

: an evil spirit once believed to lie upon persons in their sleep

2

: nightmare sense 1

Medical Definition

incubus

noun

in·​cu·​bus ˈiŋ-kyə-bəs, ˈin- 

plural incubi -ˌbī  -ˌbē  also incubuses

1

: an evil spirit at one time thought to lie on persons in their sleep

especially : one thought to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women compare succubus

2

: nightmare