mojo

American  

[moh-joh] / ˈmoʊ dʒoʊ /

noun

plural

mojos, mojoes

1. an object, as an amulet or charm, that is believed to carry a magic spell.

2. the art or practice of casting magic spells; magic.

3. Informal.

   1. a seemingly magical personal charm, power, or influence over other people.

      He’s always a hit with the ladies when he gets his mojo working.

   2. exceptional ability, good luck, success, etc..

      It seems like our team has finally gotten its mojo back.

   3. exceptional energy or power.

      Tracking back over the warm Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane regained its mojo and hit the Mississippi coast full force.

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mojo British  

/ ˈməʊdʒəʊ /

noun

1. 1. an amulet, charm, or magic spell

   2. ( as modifier )

      ancient mojo spells

2. the art of casting magic spells

3. uncanny personal power or influence

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Etymology

Origin of mojo

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; compare Gullah moco “witchcraft, magic,” probably akin to Fulani moco'o “medicine man”

Explanation

If you have good mojo, you’re popular, persuasive, and successful. It’s not a permanent thing, though. You could lose your mojo. It’s literally a magic charm bag, but these days you can have good mojo without all the baggage. In the U.S., the word mojo is commonly used to mean "magic" or even simply "control" or "power." If a musician makes a great new album after a couple of poorly reviewed releases, a critic could exclaim, "She's got her mojo back!" You could also admire a candidate running for the Senate, praising her political mojo. Originally, mojo referred to specific African American folk beliefs, from the Gullah word moco, "witchcraft." You’re getting some good vocabulary mojo right now.

Example Sentences

Even if the timetables slip, this new partnership feels like something special is happening on the Florida coast - and Nasa has already got some of its old mojo back.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

His hope is that the new cars, which return to an aerodynamic approach much more like the ones with which he had so much success, will help him recover his mojo.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Stocks, despite the Goldilocks nature of recent economic data, which indicates easing inflation pressures with a resilient job market and solid GDP growth, can’t find their mojo.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

She quipped that she has thought about taking a McJob to recapture her creative mojo, but instead she is launching an international concert tour.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

And another had a towel and a flag emblazoned with the mojo rallying cry.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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