hoodoo
Americannoun
-
hoodoos
plural
-
Hoodoo. African American folk magic practiced predominantly in the southeastern United States through rituals of protection, herbal medicine, charming of objects, and ancestor veneration.
-
(in popular culture) bad luck, or a person or thing that brings bad luck.
-
Geology. a pillar of rock, usually of fantastic shape, left by erosion.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a variant of voodoo
-
informal a person or thing that brings bad luck
-
informal bad luck
-
(in the western US and Canada) a strangely shaped column of rock
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of hoodoo
An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; apparently a variant of Voodoo
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:
Winger Corey Toole is confident the ACT Brumbies have what it takes to snap a 26-year hoodoo against the Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch, drawing inspiration from their drought-breaking victory in Auckland last year.
From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026
Mosaku: I spoke to hoodoo priestesses and that was really my main research, was kind of the faith, because that is who she is.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
Seven times in five Tests Broad got Warner, part of an overall hoodoo of 17 dismissals.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2025
Performance aside, with seven points on the board and bottom seeds Belarus to face at the weekend, Clarke's side have given themselves a great chance of ending the nation's 27-year World Cup hoodoo.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2025
So feel I. Living in the Congo shakes open the prison house of my disposition and lets all the wicked hoodoo Adahs run forth.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Townsend has won some big games and has ended some hoodoos.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
Hikes into the mountains bring you winter views of the hoodoos, a distinct landmark of the Columbia Valley.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 23, 2024
They sat in the passenger seat as we descended the scenic drive, and at each lookout point I ducked out of the car to take photos so they could see the hoodoos we were passing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2023
Drivers must pay the $35 entrance fee to motor down the 26-mile stretch that passes by hoodoos, slot canyons and ombre-colored mesas.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 15, 2021
She wore a rabbit foot and a conjure bag and believed in ha'nts and hoodoos.
From The Purple Heights by Marie Conway Oemler
“He got hoodooed by this guy. He’s worth $16 billion. He’s obviously hoodooed a few people here and there. He took our governor for a ride,” Harpootlian said.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2022
His explanation: he was being hoodooed by a radio announcer.
From Time Magazine Archive
He was satisfied now that from the moment he transferred the strap-hanger's bill-book to his own pocket he had been hoodooed.
From A Reversible Santa Claus by Meredith Nicholson
"There was a hoodooed schooner sailed out o' Salem some years back, the Marlin B. She had the same tug to sta'bo'd that I feel when I'm steerin' of this here schooner."
From Sheila of Big Wreck Cove A Story of Cape Cod by R. Emmett (Robert Emmett) Owen
That schooner is hoodooed, as sure as sure!
From Sheila of Big Wreck Cove A Story of Cape Cod by R. Emmett (Robert Emmett) Owen
Do you realize what a start like this—three twos—would mean to a professional like Frank or even an amateur that hadn't offended every busy little fate and fury in the whole hoodooing business?
From Murder in Any Degree by Owen Johnson
"I won't be any longer than I can help, and don't you go to hoodooing me, now, while I'm upstairs."
From Jewel by Clara Louise Burnham
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
