talisman
Americannoun
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a stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures or characters supposed to possess occult powers and worn as an amulet or charm.
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any amulet or charm.
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anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions.
noun
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a stone or other small object, usually inscribed or carved, believed to protect the wearer from evil influences
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anything thought to have magical or protective powers
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of talisman
First recorded in 1630–40; from French talisman, Spanish talismán or other Romance language, from Arabic ṭilasm, from Late Greek télesmon “completion, performance, consecrated object,” from Greek télesma “payment, payment to be made, outlay, expense,” a derivative of teleîn “to complete, perform” + -ma noun suffix of result. The final -n in the western Europen languages is unexplained.
Compare meaning
How does talisman compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A talisman is a charm that is supposed to ward off evil or illness. Your rabbit's foot key chain may be your lucky talisman. Of course, it wasn't so lucky for that rabbit. The word talisman has been around in English since the 1630s and it has roots in both Arabic and Greek words. A talisman is usually worn around the neck but could exist in other forms, like a ring or inscribed stone. You can think of a talisman as a good luck charm, but people tend to take talismans more seriously — as if they are empowered with magic to ward off evil spirits.
Vocabulary lists containing talisman
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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Lord of the Flies
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"The Monkey's Paw," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
Next month, the two nations will participate in a large biennial exercise, called Talisman Sabre, that will involve more than 30,000 personnel from 19 nations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2025
Talisman Cole Palmer passed free-kick duties to James, who rewarded his team-mate's trust by curling in from 20 yards out.
From BBC • Jan. 14, 2025
The strike group finished up participation in a major exercise with Australian air and naval forces called Talisman Sabre 23 on Aug. 4.
From Washington Times • Aug. 16, 2023
The lost Taipan had been taking part in Talisman Sabre, a biennial U.S.-Australian military exercise that is largely based in Queensland state.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 30, 2023
At one end of the garden, William had planted a Talisman rose.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
