potion
Americannoun
-
potions
plural
noun
-
a drink, esp of medicine, poison, or some supposedly magic beverage
-
a rare word for beverage
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of potion
1300–50; Middle English pocion < Latin pōtiōn- (stem of pōtiō ) a drinking, equivalent to pōt ( us ), variant of pōtātus, past participle of pōtāre to drink + -iōn- -ion; replacing Middle English pocioun < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
Explanation
If you meet up with any witches on Halloween, don’t drink the potion they offer you. This liquid could be poisonous, magical, or it could simply taste very strange. While a potion can be any drinkable liquid, it usually refers to medicinal concoctions or mysterious brews, as found in fairy tales and fables. This noun is related to the Latin verb, potare, which means, “to drink.” You might also notice its similarity to the adjective potable, another word for “drinkable.” Some common types you may read about or hear about are “sleeping potions,” “love potions,” and “magic potions.”
Vocabulary lists containing potion
Because of Winn-Dixie
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Siberian Survivors" and "Tigers in the Wild"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Rachel the Clever"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Let’s just say it made me look forward to a glass of my pre-colonoscopy potion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
"I don't have a magic potion that I can give to member states" -- especially, she said, the five permanent, veto-wielding members of the Security Council -- so that "everybody's friends."
From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026
"Felix Felicis!" said one comment, a reference to a potion in the series that makes the drinker lucky for a period of time.
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2026
No magic wand or special potion is needed -- only light.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2025
She sniffed the potion but did not taste it.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
This is also when I deploy what I lovingly think of as my potions and powders: anchovy, tomato paste, miso, soy sauce, fish sauce, bouillon paste or cubes, mushroom and brown gravy powder.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
When I was very young, I spent most days there making potions with hair-care products.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 6, 2026
This is a job for a seasoned administrator, but sure, might as well give it to the TV host hawking magic potions.
From Slate ● Nov. 23, 2024
The initial members include Lilia Calderu, a divination witch; Jennifer Kale, a potions expert; Alice Wu-Gulliver, a protection witch; and Sharon Davis, a.k.a.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2024
Whenever Babulya was making potions, it always fell to Anya to deliver them.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
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.
