magic

noun mag·ic \ ˈma-jik \

Updated on: 29 Dec 2017

Definition of magic

1 a : the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces

b : magic rites or incantations

2 a : an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source

Both pitchers, although they are older, haven't lost their magic.

b : something that seems to cast a spell : enchantment

all the mystery, magic and romance which belong to royalty alone
—J. E. P. Grigg

3 : the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand

entertained with acts of jugglery and magic

See magic defined for English-language learners

See magic defined for kids

Examples of magic in a Sentence

children who believe in magic
a book that explains how to do magic
Both pitchers, though they are older, haven't lost their magic.

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

The library is a literal ivory tower full of scholarly magic-users.

— n.k. jemisin, New York Times, "Magic and Moon Life: What’s New in Science Fiction and Fantasy," 3 Nov. 2017
Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, Bayme started practicing magic at 5 years old.

— howie kahn, WSJ, "The Business of Making Magic," 26 Oct. 2017
Perhaps Gillespie now thinks such issues can work magic for him, too, along with fear of immigrants.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Tweets His Way Into the Virginia Governor’s Race," 6 Oct. 2017
Before his time at the Magic Kingdom was up, Costner put a magic ring on it: His first wife, Cindy Silva, played Snow White at the park.

— Los Angeles Magazine, "5 Stars Who Worked in Disneyland Before They Were Famous," 26 Oct. 2017
To a consumer, e-commerce’s rapid delivery seems like magic: a few clicks, and within an hour or two a package can land on your doorstep.

— The Economist, "Delivering the goodsLogistics need a shake-up," 26 Oct. 2017
Bizarre sights, spooky seance, creepy magic, terrifying tunes.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Haunted houses, pumpkin patches, dress-ups Halloween weekend," 26 Oct. 2017
All the money and all the star power and all the effort and Jerry still has not been able to recapture the magic, 20 years on.

— danielle tcholakian, Longreads, "Jemele Hill Was Doing Her Job," 9 Oct. 2017
Carr began experimenting with the mix of entertainment, adding magic, variety and tribute shows as well as solo shows by stars of yesteryear, such ase Mitzi Gaynor, Shirley Jones and Rich Little.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "After 37 years, Welk theater to close," 29 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of magic

Middle English magique, from Middle French, from Latin magice, from Greek magikē, feminine of magikos Magian, magical, from magos magus, sorcerer, of Iranian origin; akin to Old Persian maguš sorcerer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

bewitchery, bewitchment, conjuring, devilry (or deviltry), diablerie, enchantment, ensorcellment, mojo, necromancy, sorcery, thaumaturgy, voodooism, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry

Antonyms

repulsion, repulsiveness

Related Words

abracadabra, amulet, charm, fetish (also fetich), mascot, periapt, phylactery, talisman; conjuration, glamour (also glamor), incantation, spell; curse, hex, jinx; augury, crystal gazing, divination, divining, forecasting, foreknowing, foreseeing, foretelling, fortune-telling, predicting, presaging, prognosticating, prophesying, soothsaying, sortilege; hexerei, hoodoo, occultism, spiritualism; augur, omen; exorcism; alchemy

Near Antonyms

science

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

magic

adjective

Definition of magic

1 : of or relating to magic

2 a : having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers

b : giving a feeling of enchantment

—

magical

play \ˈma-ji-kəl\ adjective

—

magically

play \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See magic defined for English-language learners

Examples of magic in a Sentence

a magic potion that makes you able to fly
There is no magic solution to these problems.

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

So if that total number of senators reduces to 98 from 100, then Republicans only need to get to the magic number of 49, rather than 51.

— phil mattingly, CNN, "Vote explainer: Can Republicans still pass the bill if senators are absent?," 16 Dec. 2017
WowWee had originally planned on selling the Fingerling for $20, but the giant retailer was insistent: About $15 was the magic number.

— michael corkery, New York Times, "How the Fingerling Caught On (Robot Grip and All) as 2017’s Hot Toy," 9 Dec. 2017
WowWee had originally planned on selling the Fingerling for $20, but the giant retailer was insistent: About $15 was the magic number.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "2017's hot toy: How the Fingerling - robot grip and all - caught on," 9 Dec. 2017
WowWee had originally planned on selling the Fingerling for $20, but the giant retailer was insistent: About $15 was the magic number.

— michael corkery, The Seattle Times, "Fingerlings: How a $15 monkey became the year’s hottest toy," 9 Dec. 2017
Rodney Garner would like to add as many bodies as possible on the defensive line, and five might be the magic number in this recruiting class.

— benjamin wolk, ajc, "Auburn recruiting: Predicting the Tigers’ signing class on defense," 21 Nov. 2017
Whether matched to a glistening pair of statement earrings or paired with fresh skin and a swipe of lip balm en route to a black tie affair, the 30-second, Uber-friendly magic wand may just be the glittering answer to your makeup prayers.

— jenna rennert, Vogue, "Meet the Metallic Brow Gel That Will Change Everything," 31 Oct. 2017
Saint John was hired to turn Uber back into a brand that people love, the kind of herculean task that seems to require some sort of magic wand in addition to her long list of impressive qualifications.

— allison p. davis, The Cut, "Bozoma Saint John Is a Better Brand Than Uber.," 31 Oct. 2017
To get to the magic number of 10 wins, the Ravens would have to win seven of their final eight games.

— mike preston, baltimoresun.com, "Preston: Ravens face must-win situation Thursday night against Dolphins," 23 Oct. 2017

Origin and Etymology of magic

see ¹magic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

bewitched, charmed, entranced, enchanted, magical, spellbound

Related Words

cursed (also curst), jinxed, possessed; dreamy, fairy, fairylike; fantastic (also fantastical), miraculous, utopian, wondrous; hypnotized, mesmerized; bedazzled, captivated, fascinated

Near Antonyms

commonplace, everyday, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday

magic

verb

Definition of magic

magicked; magicking

transitive verb

: to produce, remove, or influence by magic

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

It’s hard to see how wanting to magic away their beliefs is compatible with an expansive vision of tolerance that would bring ideological balance to secular universities.

— alan levinovitz, Slate Magazine, "Today’s political climate doesn’t require more tolerance. It requires less.," 20 Mar. 2017
On Halloween, Williams Sonoma released the collection for Muggles who manage to magic in the kitchen.

— melissa minton, Teen Vogue, ""Harry Potter" Collection Debuts at Williams Sonoma," 1 Nov. 2017
Slick, smooth-talking Captain Greedy can juggle, balance and do magic tricks — all calculated to impress as well as distract.

— daryl h. miller, latimes.com, "Capitalism as a sideshow fleece: That's 'Captain Greedy's Carnival' by the Actors' Gang," 13 Oct. 2017
As Stephen K. Ritter reports for Chemical & Engineering News, researchers at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany have isolated four enzymes that magic mushrooms use to make psilocybin.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Scientists Unlock Magic Mushrooms’ Mysterious Chemical Compound," 19 Aug. 2017
Brewers’ efforts to magic up a new daypart for beer come as sales of the beverage are falling, both in the U.S. and world-wide.

— lara o’reilly, WSJ, "CMO Today: WPP Suffers Hack; Brunch Beer; Verizon Pursues Carrier Data Tie-Ups," 28 June 2017

First Known Use of magic

1906

MAGIC Defined for English Language Learners

magic

noun

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

: a power that allows people (such as witches and wizards) to do impossible things by saying special words or performing special actions
: tricks that seem to be impossible and that are done by a performer to entertain people
: special power, influence, or skill

magic

adjective

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

: having the power to make impossible things happen : having supernatural power
: involving the skill of doing tricks that seem to be impossible
: capable of producing good results very easily

MAGIC Defined for Kids

magic

noun mag·ic \ ˈma-jik \

Definition of magic for Students

1 : the power to control natural forces possessed by certain persons (as wizards and witches) in folk tales and fiction

2 : the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment

3 : a power that seems mysterious

The team lost its magic.

4 : something that charms

They calmed us with the magic of their singing.

magic

adjective

Definition of magic for Students

1 : having or seeming to have the power to make impossible things happen

She chanted the magic words.

2 : of or relating to the power to make impossible things happen

magic tricks

3 : giving a feeling of enchantment

It was a magic moment.

Learn More about magic

See words that rhyme with magic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for magic Spanish Central: Translation of magic Nglish: Translation of magic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of magic for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magic

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up magic? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

magic

Definition of magic

Explore M-W

Examples of magic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of magic

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Occult Terms

magic

Definition of magic

magical

magically

Examples of magic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of magic

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

magic

Definition of magic

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

First Known Use of magic

Phrases Related to MAGIC

Related Phrases

MAGIC Defined for English Language Learners

magic

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

magic

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

MAGIC Defined for Kids

magic

Definition of magic for Students

magic

Definition of magic for Students

Learn More about magic

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Standing Up for 'Stan'

Trending: CNN's Tapper: Miller 'Obsequious,' 'Factotum'

A Retrospect Of Words From 1918

Pass the Little Ribbons: A Pasta Word Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes