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definitions

juju

[joo-joo]
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noun

an object venerated superstitiously and used as a fetish or amulet by tribal peoples of West Africa.
the magical power attributed to such an object.
a ban or interdiction effected by it.

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Juju on That BeatRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
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RELATED WORDS

phylactery, trinket, amulet, talisman, fetish, mascot, periapt

Nearby words

  1. juicehead,
  2. juicer,
  3. juicy,
  4. juiz de fora,
  5. jujitsu,
  6. jujube,
  7. jujuy,
  8. juke,
  9. juke house,
  10. juke joint

Origin of juju

1890–95; allegedly < Hausa jūjū fetish
Related formsju·ju·ism, nounju·ju·ist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for juju

British Dictionary definitions for juju

juju

noun

an object superstitiously revered by certain W African peoples and used as a charm or fetish
the power associated with a juju
a taboo effected by a juju
any process in which a mystery is exploited to confuse people
Derived Formsjujuism, nounjujuist, noun

Word Origin for juju

C19: probably from Hausa djudju evil spirit, fetish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for juju
n.2

"marijuana cigarette," 1940, supposedly from reduplicated middle syllable of marijuana.

n.1

object of religious veneration among West Africans, 1860, supposedly ultimately from French joujou "toy, plaything."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper