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.
In an Instagram post about the climb, Whisenant called it “a truly magical day that I’ll never forget.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
The next, and what would prove to be the final, stop on Wales' magical ride was a semi-final against eventual champions Portugal in Lyon.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Writing about culture means thinking about the world in magical terms.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
The TVs played scenes from the Harry Potter films and helped suspend disbelief where magical creatures were involved, and the lighting system aided in spellcasting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Eventually, Jack started to see birds and even some animals, magical and otherwise, in the underbrush, a sure sign that they’d left the Black Forest behind.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
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.
