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

That feeling is only intensified by Xang’s under-his-breath threats and twisted meditations that come across more like free-car witchcraft. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026

Starring Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, the film tells the story of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century Catholic priest who was burned at the stake over accusations of witchcraft. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 June 2026

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (referred to as EDI by the ALA) titles are also targeted, along with books depicting suicide, drugs, satanism, witchcraft, and profanity. — Spin Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026

Hundreds of true-crime pamphlets circulated, adorned with woodcuts depicting horrific acts of dismemberment, torture, and witchcraft. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 June 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