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.
Eryn has loved the Magical Faraway Tree book series for years and was excited to experience the film adaptation.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
The Mikaela Shiffrin Magical Mystery Tour is officially over with a shiny Italian victory.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026
Magical revivals can take all kinds of forms, as I pointed out to Tartakovsky in a recent conversation.
From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026
The Magic Castle has housed the Academy of Magical Arts for decades.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025
Then I remember the lobby of the Department of Magical Science is constantly changing to reflect current breakthroughs in the field.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
