witchcraft
noun
witch·craft
ˈwich-ˌkraft 
1
a
: the use of sorcery or magic
b
: communication with the devil or with a familiar
2
: an irresistible influence or fascination
3
a
: rituals and practices that incorporate belief in magic and that are associated especially with neo-pagan traditions and religions (such as Wicca)
Practitioners of Wicca … use the tools … such as the broom (a purifying symbol), the wand, candles, crystals and the knife …. They refer to their practices as witchcraft …—
Lesley Wright
Lesley Wright
b
or less commonly Witchcraft
: a tradition or religion that involves the practice of witchcraft
Feminist witchcraft sees women's oppression and environmental abuse, which they argue are intimately linked, as firmly rooted in patriarchal religions.—Wendy Griffin
Wendy GriffinWicca, which emerged in the 1940s in England, is the original form of modern Pagan Witchcraft.—Meg Yardley
Meg YardleyExamples of witchcraft in a Sentence
taught all of her daughters witchcraft
Recent Examples on the Web
Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of
a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025
Between 1582 and 1630, 40 women were accused of witchcraft and burnt at the stake—the Maison des Sorcières (Witches’ House) tells a story of the victims and their trials.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, AFAR Media, 7 Apr. 2025
The tree has been used for suicide, homicide, and witchcraft.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for witchcraft
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Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of
a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025
Between 1582 and 1630, 40 women were accused of witchcraft and burnt at the stake—the Maison des Sorcières (Witches’ House) tells a story of the victims and their trials.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, AFAR Media, 7 Apr. 2025
The tree has been used for suicide, homicide, and witchcraft.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for witchcraft
Cite this Entry
“Witchcraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witchcraft. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
witchcraft
noun
witch·craft
-ˌkraft
: the use of sorcery or magic
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