Santería

American  

[sahn-tuh-ree-uh] / ˌsɑn təˈri ə /

Or Santeria

noun

1. (sometimes lowercase) a religion merging the worship of Yoruba deities with veneration of Roman Catholic saints: practiced in Cuba and spread to other parts of the Caribbean and to the United States by Cuban emigrés.

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Santeria British  

/ ˌsæntəˈrɪə /

noun

1. a Caribbean religion composed of elements from both traditional African religion and Roman Catholicism

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Etymology

Origin of Santería

First recorded in 1980–85; from Latin American Spanish, equivalent to santer(o) “person practicing Santería” ( Spanish sant(o) saint + -ero, from Latin -ārius -ary ) + -ía -ia

Example Sentences

“Lucumí is all about survival and care,” explained Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús, a professor of American studies at Princeton University and author of “Electric Santería: Racial and Sexual Assemblages of Transnational Religion.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2025

Depictions of roses, a skull, a goat and a Santería evil eye dance around them, illuminated in sepia spotlights and looking like they could have come straight from a deck of tarot cards.

From Washington Times • Nov. 6, 2023

Perhaps the brightest of the girls, Squeeze, of Puerto Rican and Haitian background, discusses the fine points of Santería practice with Pipe, who wants the club rituals to open a portal to the supernatural.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2023

Santería was born as a form of quiet resistance among the island’s black communities.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 9, 2023

The ones who wear white are following the Santería tradition.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi