mystical
Americanadjective
-
relating to or characteristic of mysticism
-
Christianity having a divine or sacred significance that surpasses natural human apprehension
-
having occult or metaphysical significance, nature, or force
-
a less common word for mysterious
Synonym Usage
See mysterious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mystical
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; see mystic, -al 1
Explanation
Things that are mystical are magical or mysterious, possibly having to do with the supernatural or the occult. If you like to read fantasy stories, then you've probably read about a lot of mystical people and events. The power of a wizard is mystical — that is, magical, and not real. Witches are mystical. The unicorn is a mystical animal. Religions tend to involve mystical events, like miracles. Magicians try to make audiences believe they have mystical powers. Mystical things aren't real, but in a story or magic act, they can be fun to imagine.
Vocabulary lists containing mystical
Night
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!
Sugar Changed the World
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!
The Last Olympian
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.
Across different cultures, they have been viewed as everything from mystical guides that help lost travelers find their way home to ominous creatures associated with bad luck.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
All Richard can guess is that if they take him beyond the mystical boundary cutting off the born residents of Widow’s Bay from the rest of the world, the curse might end.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026
“Brigadoon,” a romantic fantasy about two Americans who stumble upon a mystical Scottish village that magically comes to life for a single day once every 100 years, might seem to be irredeemably old-fashioned.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Penda explains that from the 17th Century onwards, various ethnic groups told the legend of Luchele, a mystical, white-looking figure who helped their ancestors set up their kingdoms.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
I say that my current offering isn’t a mystical story, or a religiously mystifying story, at all.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
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.
