tarot

American  

[tar-oh, ta-roh] / ˈtær oʊ, tæˈroʊ /

noun

1. any of a set of 22 playing cards bearing allegorical representations, used for fortunetelling and as trump cards in tarok.

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tarot British  

/ ˈtærəʊ /

noun

1. one of a special pack of cards, now used mainly for fortune-telling, consisting of 78 cards (4 suits of 14 cards each (the minor arcana), and 22 other cards (the major arcana))

2. a card in a tarot pack with distinctive symbolic design, such as the Wheel of Fortune

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adjective

1. relating to tarot cards

Etymology

Origin of tarot

1590–1600; back formation from taros (plural) < Middle French < Italian tarocchi, plural of tarocco

Explanation

Tarot cards are used for fortune telling and playing card games. Many people believe that a tarot reading will give them special insight into the future — but other people believe that fortune telling is bunk. A deck of tarot cards has four suits, usually swords, cups, coins, and wands, plus 21 trump cards. These cards include The Fool, The Lovers, Death, and Justice. During a tarot reading, cards are dealt from a shuffled deck and placed in a certain pattern. The placement and order of each card gives it a specific significance and meaning. Beyond its Italian source, the origin of the word tarot remains a mystery.

Example Sentences

This vibes-based approach is about as insightful as reading a deck of Tarot cards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

On the Maes in Pwllheli, a mobile sign on the pavement advertises a shop's wares: "Tarot, Crystals, Wicca, Reiki."

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2025

Much like the Wild Unknown Tarot deck, Animal Spirit began with a self-published release of 50,000 decks, Krans said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2024

For example, the Tarot deck, originally for competitive card games, later morphed into a tool for fortune-telling.

From National Geographic • Nov. 3, 2023

They’re often attracted to New Age beliefs such as Tarot cards, the I Ching, astrology and biorhythms, since these provide them with personally customized pronouncements.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos