mojo

noun

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

Synonyms of mojo

• talisman
• amulet

Examples of mojo in a Sentence

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

Maybe Gonzaga gets there if Isiah Harwell, a five-star recruit a year ago, finds his mojo. —Cj Moore june 2, New York Times, 2 June 2026

So where are consumers getting their mojo? —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 30 May 2026

But Nabers finally gets going, and the Giants get some mojo back. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026

Marcus Buckingham, a researcher who has spent time with D’Amaro for his work on how high performers affect their organizations, says the new Disney chief has more than just mojo working. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

mojo

noun

mo·​jo ˈmō-jō 

plural mojoes or mojos

: a magic spell, hex, or charm

also : magical power

Etymology

probably of African origin