witch doctor

American  

noun

1. a person in some societies who attempts to cure sickness and to exorcise evil spirits by the use of magic.

---

witch doctor British  

noun

1. Also called: shaman.   medicine man.  a man in certain societies, esp preliterate ones, who appears to possess magical powers, used esp to cure sickness but also to harm people

2. a person who seeks out or hunts witches in some African tribal cultures

---

Etymology

Origin of witch doctor

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

What I remember about “Grey’s” — I was that girl that people would say, “Can you play like a witch doctor on Monday?” or “Can you have this weird disease?”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

In Namibia, “for a witch doctor to make a ruling on whether or not you are a witch, you have to pay him a lot of money,” Holtzhausen says.

From Scientific American • May 31, 2023

French media reports said Pogba told investigators the extortionists wanted to discredit him by claiming he asked a witch doctor to cast a spell on Mbappe — an allegation denied by Pogba.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 31, 2022

“It’s an African American witch doctor talking about fictional fantasy and monsters and ghouls,” Ms. Brown said.

From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2022

His mother said, “A grief counselor?” as if his father suggested he speak to a witch doctor.

From "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" by Rita Williams-Garcia