witch hunt

American  

[wich-huhnt] / ˈwɪtʃˌhʌnt /

Or witch-hunt

noun

1. (in historical use) the investigation, trial, and punishment of alleged practitioners of witchcraft.

2. an intensive inquiry, originally or purportedly to discover and expose dishonesty, subversion, or other wrongdoing, the scope and conclusions of which often include and bring harm to innocent persons or their reputations through reliance on hearsay or circumstantial evidence.

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verb (used with object)

1. to subject to a witch hunt.

   The defendant claimed he was being witch-hunted due to his political activism.

witch-hunt British  

noun

1. a rigorous campaign to round up or expose dissenters on the pretext of safeguarding the welfare of the public

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Other Word Forms

• witch hunter noun
• witch-hunter noun
• witch-hunting adjective

Etymology

Origin of witch hunt

First recorded in 1885–90 witch hunt for def. 1; in 1935–40 witch hunt for def. 2; and in 1945–50 witch hunt for def. 3; the gerund witch-hunting was first recorded in 1635–40

Example Sentences

In a statement, she denounced the process as unfair, saying the Ethics Committee "refused my new attorney's reasonable request for time to prepare my defense" and describing the proceedings as "a witch hunt."

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

“They did this giant witch hunt sweep and effectively changed the lives of 30 people and all the people that depend on them.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Thierry Breton, the former top tech regulator at the European Commission, suggested that a "witch hunt" was taking place.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

“What we’re seeing is a witch hunt against lesbians,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

This was an accident and a witch hunt; the prosecution felt the defense had insulated itself from science and reality.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel