shaman
Americannoun
noun
-
a priest of shamanism
-
a medicine man of a similar religion, esp among certain tribes of North American Indians
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of shaman
First recorded in 1690–1700; from German Schamane, from Russian shamán, probably from Evenki šamān, samān or another Tungusic language, perhaps ultimately via an intermediary such as Tocharian B from Sanskrit śramaṇá- “ascetic, monk”
Explanation
A shaman is a tribal healer who can act as a medium between the visible world and the spirit world. Shamans are kind of a mix between priests and doctors. Like a priest, a shaman is a holy man who represents a religion — in this case, shamanism. Like a doctor, a shaman heals people — or at least claims to do so. If you're not into shamanism, you can use this term more generally: A really good teacher, especially one who works a little mysteriously, might be said to work "like a shaman".
Vocabulary lists containing shaman
Born a Crime
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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World Religions
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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.
"May all that is bad dissolve into the river and never return," the shaman chanted.
From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026
Once, they brought in a shaman to cleanse the house with sage and cedar during a full blood moon.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026
Maybe the shaman saw something and was concerned because she approached Brown and asked if she could sing to him.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025
Devin even gives her something he received from a Maori shaman during their first one-on-one date in New Zealand.
From Salon • Sep. 4, 2024
I couldn’t tell if the shaman was mocking me.
From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis
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.
