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
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
Wendy GriffinWicca, which emerged in the 1940s in England, is the original form of modern Pagan Witchcraft.—Meg Yardley
Meg YardleyExamples of witchcraft in a Sentence
taught all of her daughters witchcraft
Recent Examples on the Web
The plot, which takes place in Páez’s native province of Santa Fe, involves a witchcraft university, an itinerant circus, and the fateful meeting of two teenagers.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
In Africa, for instance, there is a misconception that the affected person has been cursed by witchcraft or that the movement disorder is contagious.
—Indu Subramanian, The Conversation, 1 May 2025
Ostara ritual: The Pleiadian Altar crystal shop is welcoming spring with togetherness and witchcraft at 9pm Friday.
—Erin Alberty, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
Michelet, in fact, famously theorized that witchcraft was a counter-religion persecuted by the Church.
—Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for witchcraft
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
In Africa, for instance, there is a misconception that the affected person has been cursed by witchcraft or that the movement disorder is contagious.
—Indu Subramanian, The Conversation, 1 May 2025
Ostara ritual: The Pleiadian Altar crystal shop is welcoming spring with togetherness and witchcraft at 9pm Friday.
—Erin Alberty, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
Michelet, in fact, famously theorized that witchcraft was a counter-religion persecuted by the Church.
—Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for witchcraft
Cite this Entry
“Witchcraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witchcraft. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
witchcraft
noun
witch·craft
-ˌkraft
: the use of sorcery or magic
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share