witchcraft

noun

witch·​craft ˈwich-ˌkraft 

1

a

: the use of sorcery or magic

b

: communication with the devil or with a familiar

2

: an irresistible influence or fascination

3

a

: rituals and practices that incorporate belief in magic and that are associated especially with neo-pagan traditions and religions (such as Wicca)

Practitioners of Wicca … use the tools … such as the broom (a purifying symbol), the wand, candles, crystals and the knife. … They refer to their practices as witchcraft …

—Lesley Wright

b

or less commonly Witchcraft : a tradition or religion that involves the practice of witchcraft

Feminist witchcraft sees women's oppression and environmental abuse, which they argue are intimately linked, as firmly rooted in patriarchal religions.

—Wendy Griffin

Wicca, which emerged in the 1940s in England, is the original form of modern Pagan Witchcraft.

—Meg Yardley

Synonyms of witchcraft

• sorcery
• magic

Examples of witchcraft in a Sentence

taught all of her daughters witchcraft

Recent Examples on the Web

The British horror film stars Oscar-winner Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, telling the story of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century priest who was accused of witchcraft. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Think earthy, free-spirited garb, Bohemian crafts and clothing, and the visual symbols of Wicca and other witchcraft traditions. — Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2026

Connecticut has an association with witchcraft that’s as long and dishonorable as anything that happened in Massachusetts. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026

Helen’s famous face has been disfigured, presumably by her angry husband, Menelaus; the sorceress Circe uses her witchcraft in self-defense, seemingly as a result of traumatic encounters with men. — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for witchcraft

• abaft
• aircraft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• downdraft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft
• schoolcraft
• spacecraft
• stagecraft
• statecraft

Kids Definition

witchcraft

noun

witch·​craft -ˌkraft 

: the use of sorcery or magic