witchcraft

American  

[wich-kraft] / ˈwɪtʃˌkræft /

noun

1. the art or practices of a witch; sorcery or magical influence; magic, especially for evil purposes.

   She was arrested on the charge of witchcraft in September of 1665.

   Some people believe the disease is caused by witchcraft or a curse.

2. the modern practice of magic as a spiritual observance, especially as associated with neopaganism or Wicca.

   The presence of witchcraft has increased greatly on college campuses in the last ten years.

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witchcraft British  

/ ˈwɪtʃˌkrɑːft /

noun

1. the art or power of bringing magical or preternatural power to bear or the act or practice of attempting to do so

2. the influence of magic or sorcery

3. fascinating or bewitching influence or charm

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witchcraft Cultural  

1. 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.

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Related Words

See magic.

Discover More

Old misunderstandings and hysterical accusations have led to persecution of “witches,” most famously in the Salem witch trials of 1692.

Etymology

Origin of witchcraft

First recorded before 950; Middle English wicchecraft, Old English wiccecræft; equivalent to witch + craft

Compare meaning

How does witchcraft compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• sorcery vs. witchcraft

Explanation

Witchcraft is a type of magic that involves casting spells and divining the future. Historically, witchcraft was often associated with folk medicine and healing. The word witchcraft has had many meanings over time and in different parts of the world. It has been dangerous to be accused of practicing witchcraft throughout history, and remains so in some places today. For some, witchcraft is simply the practice of the Wiccan religion, while others see witchcraft as evil, involving the dark forces or magic. You can also use this word to mean a bewitching sort of charm.

Example Sentences

She distinguished herself writing episodes of weird, atmospheric series including Netflix’s “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” a nightmarish exploration of witchcraft and filmmaking in 1990s L.A., and “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” also for Netflix.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Madigan: Well, I can’t say that I’ve read 1,500 books about alchemy and quote-unquote witchcraft and things like that.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Belief in witchcraft is also so deeply ingrained in Sierra Leone, even among many police officers, that there is often a fear of pursuing cases further - and most go unsolved.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025

Conspiracy theories about Lungu have spread across Zambia—from suggestions he isn’t really dead to rumors that Hichilema wants the corpse for witchcraft purposes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025

There may be no technological or sociological explanation for the decline in belief in witchcraft in the early eighteenth century, but there is an alternative explanation ready to hand.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• black magic
• occult
• voodoo