Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of magical
Explanation
Something magical seems to work by way of some mysterious, unseen force. If you had magical powers, you could make annoying people disappear or instantly fill your room with adorable kittens. Wizards and witches are know for their magical and sometimes evil powers. However, a gorgeous sunset or a perfect day at Disney World can also feel magical. Magical comes from the Greek magikos, (also "magical"), from magos, "member of the learned and priestly class," probably stemming from the Proto-Indo-European magh-, "to have power."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We don't need Harry Potter, it's already a magical place," she added of the event's location.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Mr. Guimarães performed at what might be the international locus of all things magical, the famed Magic Castle, a private club in Hollywood where professionals perform and the smitten gather to celebrate them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Rivera’s play, which won an Obie Award, caught fire in its 1993 New York premiere at the Public Theater with its theatrical street sense, savage imagery and Puerto Rican-inflected magical realism.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
“There’s this concept out there that if your testosterone number is higher, then all these magical benefits will accrue to you, and it’s simply not true.”
From Slate ● Sep. 13, 2026
Did he have magical appendages there that allowed him to control water?
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
