mystic
1 Americanadjective
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involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal.
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of the nature of or pertaining to mysteries known only to the initiated.
mystic rites.
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of occult character, power, or significance.
a mystic formula.
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of obscure or mysterious character or significance.
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of or relating to mystics or mysticism.
noun
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a person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy.
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a person initiated into religious mysteries.
noun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of mystic
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English mystik, from Latin mysticus, from Greek mystikós, from mýst(ēs) “an initiate into the mysteries” (from myeîn “to initiate, teach,” akin to mýein “to shut”; cf. myopia ( def. )) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Look into my crystal ball; tell me what you see. If there's something about the future, something beyond human comprehension in there, maybe you're a mystic or someone who believes in supernatural realities. One of the most famous mystics in history is Nostradamus, who some people credit with predicting events like the French Revolution and the atom bomb. Whether you believe in mystics or not, the word is not just used to describe people. When something is mystic, it has to do with religious mysteries and practices or it simply inspires a sense of mystery or wonder, like the Himalaya Mountains, which some people consider a mystic place.
Vocabulary lists containing mystic
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World Religions
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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.
David Standridge, chef at The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut – a 2026 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Chef of the Year – is one of them.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
The notice, sent by the Texas Department of State Health Services, found that the emergency plans submitted by all-girls Camp Mystic fell short of its standards in more than 20 categories.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
One reason for the Mystic community’s strife, it seems, is because people still don’t agree or understand what happened that night — or in the days that followed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
Meanwhile, another 400 families have kept their Mystic deposits, giving them the option to return next year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
He was a sixteen-year-old Toyota Corolla with a paint color called Mystic Teal Mica and an engine that clanked in a steady rhythm like the beating of his immaculate metallic heart.
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
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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.