mojo

1 of 2

noun (1)

mo·​jo ˈmō-(ˌ)jō 

plural mojos

1

: a magic spell, hex, or charm

A mojo, by the way, is a kind of magic charm; Elroi wears one around his neck …

—Edith Oliver

Ron told me he thought that someone had put a mojo on Jose—that he was hexed …

—Benson Deitz

… a cloth pouch worn on a string around the neck for holding mojos and small change.

—Shelby Foote

… a … Brazilian shaman who carries a mojo bag …

—Video Review

also : magic, hoodoo

In Cajun country, they call it mojo—magic as mysterious as it is spiritual.

—Sandra Lee

—often used with the

… a kind of colorful magic known as the mojo …

—Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

2

: a seemingly supernatural power, influence, or ability

Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black" lost its mojo in the third season, as the plots—many of them silly—petered out.

—Matthew Gilbert

Whether they have several hours or only a few minutes to work their mojo, filmmakers need to make the most of every moment.

—Jason Anderson

But Tennessee comes out on top with a defense that appears vastly improved the last couple weeks, boosting an offense that's found its mojo too.

—Ben Arthur

mojo

2 of 2

noun (2)

mo·​jo ˈmō-ˌhō 

plural mojos

: a sauce, marinade, or seasoning that is usually composed primarily of olive oil, garlic, citrus juice, and spices (such as black pepper and cumin)

… crisp beef shreds … served with the classic Cuban mojo, a sauce made with citrus fruits, garlic and olive oil …

—Alan Kellogg

… the Cuban mojo, made with crushed garlic, olive oil, maybe oregano, and citrus juice, most often bitter orange.

—Dan Nosowitz

The "Let it Marinade" collection has five mojos and sauces to help "take meat flavors" to a new "Cuban-inspired level."

—Stephen Fries

On the afternoon of Effe Café's first anniversary in a Cooper City gas station last month, lunch-rush customers ordered mojo pork sandwiches …

—Phillip Valys

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• talisman
• amulet

Examples of mojo in a Sentence

Noun (1)

He's been suffering from incredibly bad mojo lately.

The team has lost its mojo.

We need to get our mojos working again.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Last season, Anthony started off strong but slowly lost his mojo. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 June 2025

The 2023 American League Manager of the Year didn’t suddenly lose his mojo. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 May 2025

In recent years, Hollywood has lost some of its mojo. —Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025

Madrid have lost their mojo on the pitch, but not their magnetism in the transfer market. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably of African origin; akin to Fulani moco'o medicine man

Noun (2)

borrowed from Cuban Spanish, noun derivative of Spanish mojar "to make wet, moisten," going back to Vulgar Latin *molliāre — more at moil entry 1

Note: Attestations of Spanish mojo in approximately the sense of the definition go back to at least the early twentieth century, to judge from the following passage: "Un puerco ahumado con hojas de guayaba, con plátano verde y mojo de naranja agria, es el alimento predilecto del guajiro criollo." (A. Pompeyo, "Protesta de un cuerdo," Cuba y América, revista illustrada, vol. 14, no. 1, January 3, 1904, p. 17; "A hog cooked [literally, smoked] with guava leaves, green plantain and mojo of sour orange is the favorite dish of the native-born countryman.") The sauce is described earlier without inclusion of citrus in an account of Cuba by the American Samuel Hazard: "El aporreado is made of half raw meat, dressed with water, vinegar, salt, etc., which operation is known as perdigar (or stewing in an earthen pan); then mashed and stirred together it is fried slightly in a sauce (mojo) of lard, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and peppers" (Cuba with Pen and Pencil, Hartford CT, 1871, pp. 537-38). A similar description can be found in the anonymous cookbook El cocinero de los enfermos, convalecientes y desganados (Havana, 1862): "… el mojo, que es una fritura de tomates, cebollas, ajíes dulces con manteca y sal" (p. 41; "mojo, which is a fried mix of tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers with lard and salt"). See also mojito.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1983, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mojo

• mojo bag

Kids Definition

mojo

noun

mo·​jo ˈmō-jō 

plural mojoes or mojos

: a magic spell, hex, or charm

also : magical power

Etymology

Noun

probably of African origin