witch doctor
Americannoun
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witch doctors
plural
noun
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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
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a person who seeks out or hunts witches in some African tribal cultures
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of witch doctor
First recorded in 1710–20
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.
"Kane curse lifted", the paper says, referring to England captain Harry Kane, who came under a "curse" from a "witch doctor".
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
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
He also claimed that the midfielder mixed with criminals and he repeated claims that Paul Pogba employed a witch doctor.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 23, 2022
Llegó el curanderooo — Tony was playing his summer mix, “Sacude,” and I had arrived just in time for my favorite part, when Tego Calderón announces himself as the healer, the witch doctor.
From New York Times ● Sep. 15, 2021
He ordered his men to prepare food and water for a journey and then he set off with his daughter in the direction indicated by the witch doctor.
From "The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa" by Alexander Mccall Smith
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