exorcism
Americannoun
-
exorcisms
plural
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the act or process of exorcising.
-
the ceremony or the formula used in exorcising.
An elaborate exorcism was pronounced over the sick man.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of exorcism
1350–1400; Middle English exorcisme (< Old French ) < Medieval Latin < Greek exorkismós administration of an oath. See exorcise, -ism
Explanation
A kid who's having an hour-long screaming temper tantrum probably needs either an exorcism or a nap. You can use the noun exorcism to describe getting rid of evil spirits. Exorcism, when it's used literally to mean evicting bad spirits, is a religious term. Plenty of horror movies feature a priest performing the ritual of exorcism on a demonically possessed person, and some version of exorcism really does exist in Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish traditions. The word can also be used as a metaphor for getting rid of something negative: "Finally telling you the truth felt like an exorcism."
Vocabulary lists containing exorcism
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
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She Is A Haunting
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Wintergirls
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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:
While the centre operates without strict Vatican oversight, it follows long-standing Church rules governing exorcism, including mandatory vetting by mental health professionals.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
"To let go of somebody you love, the best way to do it is to write about it. It's like an exorcism."
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
But maybe it can also be an exorcism: Tracy Morgan wasn’t the only spectator who likened the unadulterated glee lighting up the city to the final scene in “Ghostbusters.”
From Salon ● Jun. 17, 2026
Jim Dolan, less than 24 hours after the New York Knicks’ championship exorcism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
She would be allowed to wear sandals until they neared the exorcism site.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
This is largely because exorcism as a modern practice has been shaped by evangelical influences: The overwhelming majority of exorcisms today are done by Pentecostals.
From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026
The series also starred Collins as angel Castiel, who accompanies the Winchesters on their exorcisms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2025
Stanton delivered regular sermons to community residents, which included exorcisms and speaking in tongues.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2024
But Catholic exorcisms are on the rise, too.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2023
Then a priest must walk along it, who pronounces the "victorious words," i. e. certain exorcisms.
From The History of Antiquity Vol. V. by Max Duncker
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.
