sorcery

noun

sor·​cery ˈsȯr-sə-rē 

ˈsȯrs-rē

1

: the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining : necromancy

2

: magic sense 2a

Synonyms

• witchcraft
• magic

Examples of sorcery in a Sentence

in olden times people suspected of sorcery were often put to death

Recent Examples on the Web

Sheibani and McCraney know that the way to bring out the sorcery of a play layered in myth and ritual is not to weigh it down. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025

Can Printemps New York recapture the commercial sorcery of glamorous department stores like Wanamaker’s, Barney’s, and Bloomingdale’s? —Martin Filler, The New York Review of Books, 4 Sep. 2025

As Calhoun summarizes, the first part takes up the subject of magic and necromancy, the second treats of witchcraft and sorcery, and the third discourses of all kinds of spirits and specters. —Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025

Putting It All Together AI might feel like magic, but it’s powered by structure, not sorcery. —Abhesh Kumar, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sorcerie, from Anglo-French, from sorcer sorcerer, from Medieval Latin sortiarius, from Latin sort-, sors chance, lot — more at series

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sorcery

noun

sor·​cery ˈsȯrs-(ə-)rē 

: the use of powers gotten with the help of or by the control of evil spirits : witchcraft