definitions

witchcraft

[ wich-kraft, -krahft ]
/ ˈwɪtʃˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR witchcraft ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the art or practices of a witch; sorcery; magic.
magical influence; witchery.

RELATED CONTENT

Strange Studies Worthy Of A College DegreeFrom Angelology to Scatology, we’re touring the campus of out-of-the-ordinary fields of study in which some people may (or may not) specialize.
READ MORE
Salem witch trialsRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

occult, voodoo, spell, abracadabra, jinx, thaumaturgy, necromancy, enchantment, hoodoo, sorcery, charisma, whammy, incantation, magnetism, hocus-pocus, divination, witchery, occultism, bewitchment, wizardry

Nearby words

witch's mark, witch's milk, witch-, witch-elm, witch-hunt, witchcraft, witchery, witches' brew, witches' butter, witches' sabbath, witches'-besom

Origin of witchcraft

before 950; Middle English wicchecraft, Old English wiccecræft. See witch, craft
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for witchcraft

British Dictionary definitions for witchcraft

witchcraft

/ (ˈwɪtʃˌkrɑːft) /

noun

the art or power of bringing magical or preternatural power to bear or the act or practice of attempting to do so
the influence of magic or sorcery
fascinating or bewitching influence or charm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for witchcraft

witchcraft

Popularly believed to be the practice of black magic. Witches are known today as followers of Wicca, a pagan nature religion with roots in pre-Christian western Europe. Wicca is now undergoing a revival, especially in the United States and Great Britain.

Note

Old misunderstandings and hysterical accusations have led to persecution of “witches,” most famously in the Salem witch trials of 1692.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.