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

• bewitchery
• bewitchment
• conjuring
• devilry
• deviltry
• diablerie
• enchantment
• ensorcellment
• magic
• mojo
• necromancy
• thaumaturgy
• voodooism
• witchcraft
• witchery
• wizardry

Examples of sorcery in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Bassett’s sword and sorcery movie Red Sonja will be released by Samuel Goldwyn Films later this year. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 May 2025

His Game 2 first half was evidence that his sorcery is still capable of outpacing Father Time. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2025

But the complexity remains transfixing, even after Errico quits the band and Stone pours his sorcery into the drum machine, a development that the film’s expert-musicians agree sets his music down a wide Yellow Brick Road. —Wesley Morris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025

Wakanda Forever, the series brings Riri back home to Chicago, where the lines between science and sorcery start to blur. —Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Mar. 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