shamanism

[ shah-muh-niz-uhm, shey-, sham-uh- ]
/ ˈʃɑ məˌnɪz əm, ˈʃeɪ-, ˈʃæm ə- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR shamanism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the animistic religion of northern Asia, embracing a belief in powerful spirits that can be influenced only by shamans.
any similar religion.

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Origin of shamanism

First recorded in 1770–80; shaman + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM shamanism

sha·man·ist, noun, adjectivesha·man·is·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to shamanism

healing

Example sentences from the Web for shamanism

British Dictionary definitions for shamanism

shamanism
/ (ˈʃæməˌnɪzəm) /

noun

the religion of certain peoples of northern Asia, based on the belief that the world is pervaded by good and evil spirits who can be influenced or controlled only by the shamans
any similar religion involving forms of spiritualism

Derived forms of shamanism

shamanist, noun, adjectiveshamanistic, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012