mystical
Americanadjective
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relating to or characteristic of mysticism
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Christianity having a divine or sacred significance that surpasses natural human apprehension
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having occult or metaphysical significance, nature, or force
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a less common word for mysterious
Synonym Usage
See mysterious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mystical
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; see mystic, -al 1
Explanation
Things that are mystical are magical or mysterious, possibly having to do with the supernatural or the occult. If you like to read fantasy stories, then you've probably read about a lot of mystical people and events. The power of a wizard is mystical — that is, magical, and not real. Witches are mystical. The unicorn is a mystical animal. Religions tend to involve mystical events, like miracles. Magicians try to make audiences believe they have mystical powers. Mystical things aren't real, but in a story or magic act, they can be fun to imagine.
Vocabulary lists containing mystical
Night
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Sugar Changed the World
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The Last Olympian
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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.
Our critic noted, “Despite a sea between them literally and metaphorically, Europe and the Americas shared a common imagination, a curiosity to explain the unknown, and a desire to make the mystical beautiful.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
Katy Bell, a senior conservation officer from Ulster Wildlife, said nest boxes play a part, but the willingness of farmers to adapt to the needs of the "magical, mystical" barn owl has been important too.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
A mystical aura filled the heat-wave-sweaty Kollegienkirche, a voluminous central Salzburg church.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
These include near-death experiences, mystical states, and episodes of terminal lucidity.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
It was a night of confirmation when he felt an almost mystical affinity with every man who had ever borne the motto of semper fidelis.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
