medicine man
Americannoun
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(among North American Indians and some other aboriginal peoples) a person believed to possess magical or supernatural powers; shaman.
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a seller of patent medicine, especially before 1900, presenting a medicine show to attract customers.
noun
Etymology
Origin of medicine man
First recorded in 1795–1805
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.
The Apache medicine man Geronimo made his now-legendary name leading raids and eluding capture during the Apache wars of the 19th century.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
Jim Walker, her great-great-grandfather and a respected medicine man, rode mustangs all the way to Florida, visiting tribes along the way to exchange medicine and horses.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025
As a young mother, Ms. Rabha was told by a local medicine man that her mentally ill son would soon die; he didn’t.
From New York Times • May 31, 2024
Chasing Horse had gained a reputation among indigenous tribes across the US and Canada as a medicine man who performed healing ceremonies and spiritual gatherings.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2023
The helper brought him a blanket; they walked him to the edge of the rim- rock, and the medicine man told him to sit down.
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
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.
