mystic

1 of 2

adjective

mys·​tic ˈmi-stik 

1

: mystical sense 1a

2

: of or relating to mysteries or esoteric rites : occult

3

: of or relating to mysticism or mystics

4

a

: mysterious

b

: obscure, enigmatic

c

: inducing a feeling of awe or wonder

d

: having magical properties

mystic

2 of 2

noun

1

: a follower of a mystical way of life

2

: an advocate of a theory of mysticism

Synonyms

Adjective

• magic
• magical

Examples of mystic in a Sentence

Adjective

She had a mystic vision while praying.

the notion that a cat has nine lives is based upon the belief that nine is a mystic number

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Yet Blanc’s real faith lies in the nearly mystic quality involved in seeing what the human animal is capable of. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025

Yeats’s spirals, once dismissed as the wild diagrams of a mystic, now settle over this place like soot. —Alaa Alqaisi august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025

Noun

In the 15th century, Sufi mystics are said to have consumed it to stay awake during long nights of prayer and devotions. —Ali Halit Diker, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025

The Golem of Prague, rooted in 16th-century Jewish folklore, tells the story of Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, a renowned Talmudic scholar and mystic who sought to protect the Jewish community of Prague from antisemitic attacks and blood libel accusations. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English mystyke "open to symbolic or spiritual interpretation," borrowed from Latin mysticus "of secret rites, secret," borrowed from Greek mystikós, from mýstēs "person initiated (into a religious cult)" (probably from mys-, variant stem of mȳ́ein "to close, shut [the eyes]"—of uncertain origin— + -tēs, agent suffix) + ikos -ic entry 1

Noun

probably derivative of mystic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mystic

• mystic fire topaz
• mystic topaz

Rhymes for mystic

• cystic
• agonistic
• altruistic
• animistic
• aphoristic
• atheistic
• cabalistic
• calvinistic
• chauvinistic
• dualistic
• egoistic
• egotistic

Kids Definition

mystic

1 of 2 adjective

mys·​tic ˈmis-tik 

1

: mystical sense 1

2

: of or relating to magic : occult

3

: mysterious, awesome

mystic

2 of 2 noun

: a person who seeks direct knowledge of God through meditation and prayer

Geographical Definition

Mystic

geographical name

Mys·​tic ˈmi-stik 

river in eastern Massachusetts flowing southeast into Boston Harbor