demon
noun
an evil spirit; devil or fiend.
demon
1 American
[dee-muhn]
/ ˈdi mən /
noun
-
demons
plural
-
an evil spirit; devil or fiend.
-
an evil passion or influence.
-
a person considered extremely wicked, evil, or cruel.
-
a person with great energy, drive, etc..
He's a demon for work.
-
a person, especially a child, who is very mischievous.
His younger son is a real little demon.
-
Australian Slang. a policeman, especially a detective.
adjective
-
of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or noting a demon.
-
possessed or controlled by a demon.
demon-
2
American
demon
British
/ ˈdiːmən /
noun
-
an evil spirit or devil
-
a person, habit, obsession, etc, thought of as evil, cruel, or persistently tormenting
-
Also called: daemon, daimon. an attendant or ministering spirit; genius
the demon of inspiration
-
-
a person who is extremely skilful in, energetic at, or devoted to a given activity, esp a sport
a demon at cycling
-
( as modifier )
a demon cyclist
-
-
a variant spelling of daemon
-
informal a detective or policeman
-
computing a part of a computer program, such as a help facility, that can run in the background behind the current task or application, and which will only begin to work when certain conditions are met or when it is specifically invoked
Usage
What does demon- mean? Demon- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “demon.” It is used in a few technical terms, especially in theology. Demon- comes from the Greek daimónion, meaning “thing of divine nature” and ultimate source of the English word demon. Among Jewish and Christian writers, daimónion was used to mean “evil spirit.”Demon- is a variant of demono-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use demono- article.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of demon
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin daemonium < Greek daimónion, thing of divine nature (in Jewish and Christian writers, evil spirit), neuter of daimónios, derivative of daímōn; demon ( def. 6 ) < Latin; see daemon
Explanation
A demon is an evil, mythical monster or spirit. Stories about demons are featured in a variety of different religious traditions. You might come across a demon in a supernatural fairy tale, or even in the Christian Bible. Demons are often interchangeable with devils, and both words are sometimes used to talk about a cruel, fiendish person. If you're extremely good at something, you also might be described as a demon: "She's a demon at bowling." The Greek root, daimon, doesn't have the same negative connotations — it means "spirit or deity."
Vocabulary lists containing demon
The House of Hades
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"Making Faces"
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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.
See Examples For:
In the former, the protagonist acquires a scrapbook containing a 17th-century drawing of a demon that will leap from the page.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
People visit these structures, known as pandals, where Durga is often depicted slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
In the first “Furious” episode, she explains how Medusa, the snake-haired demon who turns men to stone, got that way.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026
“If I dont get it refunded I will not be able to purchase tickets to the actual ‘K pop demon hunters show,’” the email read.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
I didn't want to admit it, but the word demon was beginning to sound...right.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
“Supernatural,” the demon- and monster-hunting drama that will not die, is back for the 13th season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2017
Kyle Green of Wasilla got $49,300 to build a demon- stration solar house suitable for northern latitudes.
From Time Magazine Archive
And yet these sons demon- strated the errors of their parents.
From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 5 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Discussions by Robert Green Ingersoll
The hour has struck when proof and demon- 342:3 stration, instead of opinion and dogma, are summoned to the support of Christianity, "making wise the simple."
From Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
His purpose in healing was not alone to restore health, but to demon- strate his divine Principle.
From Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
For all of his flippant humour, Blunt's demons are real.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Meloni is a comedy king, the best part of “Wet Hot American Summer,” while Hargitay earned a laugh with a clip of her early work in “Ghoulies,” a schlocky horror movie about toilet demons.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
Costume designer Maya Edmond dresses Big Ant thematically: white tees when he’s trying to be good, black duds when his demons are winning and comic book-y jailbird stripes during his pivotal teenage arrest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
The resulting movie, which opens in US theaters on Friday, promises to take audiences into the Further -- and bring back the demons who live there.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
‘Many winters ago, they banded together in secret. At first they called themselves the Healers. Deceived themselves into believing that they’ wished only to do good; to cure sickness, guard against demons.’
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
