Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of magical
Explanation
Something magical seems to work by way of some mysterious, unseen force. If you had magical powers, you could make annoying people disappear or instantly fill your room with adorable kittens. Wizards and witches are know for their magical and sometimes evil powers. However, a gorgeous sunset or a perfect day at Disney World can also feel magical. Magical comes from the Greek magikos, (also "magical"), from magos, "member of the learned and priestly class," probably stemming from the Proto-Indo-European magh-, "to have power."
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.
For decades, they remained largely untouched, but researchers have now deciphered them, uncovering texts that range from magical rituals to royal records and everyday administrative notes.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
Doncic was coming off a magical month, becoming the only player in history other than Michael Jordan to score 600 points in March.
From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026
The worst teams get the best picks of the college superstars and that gives them hope of a magical turnaround - and the NFL has managed to market it all as a must-see experience.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
When that book ends, Louise predicts that, even at 50, Claude will have the same magical vitality of his youth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
“Did you know,” Glory said, “sometimes after children return from a magical land, the things from those worlds try to drag them back.”
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
