mystic
adjective
involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal.
mystic
1 American
[mis-tik]
/ ˈmɪs tɪk /
adjective
-
involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal.
-
of the nature of or pertaining to mysteries known only to the initiated.
mystic rites.
-
of occult character, power, or significance.
a mystic formula.
-
of obscure or mysterious character or significance.
-
of or relating to mystics or mysticism.
noun
-
mystics
plural
-
a person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy.
-
a person initiated into religious mysteries.
Mystic
2
American
[mis-tik]
/ ˈmɪs tɪk /
noun
mystic
British
/ ˈmɪstɪk /
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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mysticitynoun
-
antimysticadjective
-
nonmysticadjective
-
semimysticadjective
-
unmysticadjective
-
mysticlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of mystic
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English mystik, from Latin mysticus, from Greek mystikós, from mýst(ēs) “an initiate into the mysteries” (from myeîn “to initiate, teach,” akin to mýein “to shut”; cf. myopia ( def. )) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Look into my crystal ball; tell me what you see. If there's something about the future, something beyond human comprehension in there, maybe you're a mystic or someone who believes in supernatural realities. One of the most famous mystics in history is Nostradamus, who some people credit with predicting events like the French Revolution and the atom bomb. Whether you believe in mystics or not, the word is not just used to describe people. When something is mystic, it has to do with religious mysteries and practices or it simply inspires a sense of mystery or wonder, like the Himalaya Mountains, which some people consider a mystic place.
Vocabulary lists containing mystic
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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.
See Examples For:
Emmanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish mystic born in 1688, wasn’t being metaphorical when he subtitled his otherworldly narrative “From Things Heard and Seen.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
An entrancing set of 13 Glass songs to texts by the 13th-century mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi was supposed to serve as the framework for pioneering 21st-century opera with 3D imagery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2025
It was this identification with Derbyshire that led Tutti to write Re-Sisters in 2002, which also focused on another non-conformist woman, the medieval Norfolk mystic Margery Kempe.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025
Healy Lake members, Combs said, have long considered their dogs to be mystic companions.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 4, 2024
“I see danger in your Present,” my aunt boomed, both her acting and her disguise making her appear every bit a true mystic.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
“The word Mystic has also become a driving force of what this journey means to me,” Saleh says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Saleh created her brand Mystic by Esme in 2021, but it took her some time before she could gather the courage to try to sell them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
“Respect for those voices requires that we step back now,” Camp Mystic said, adding that it would continue to cooperate with all ongoing investigations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
David Standridge, chef at The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut – a 2026 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Chef of the Year – is one of them.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
"I was going to have my own fortune cookies! A new website! I was even going to write a bestselling book called Mystic Marshmallows!"
From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene
Over centuries, similar conceptions of alien harbors grew in the minds of mystics and scientists, sometimes leading to fatal clashes with dominant religious doctrines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
Baba is a commonly used term in India to refer to mystics and religious gurus and also to fathers or grandfathers by both Hindus and Muslims.
From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026
Myanmar has a rich culture of fortune-telling, and many believe the future can be discerned by mystics.
From Barron's ● Dec. 21, 2025
Unlike some of the bolder mystics of medieval Europe, however, she is relatively circumspect about her powers and thus attracts little unwanted attention.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024
“Do you know why Mercy still sought out healers and mystics all those years later?”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
