witchcraft

What it means

1. uncountableusuallyThe practice of witches; magic, sorcery, or the use of supernatural powers to influence or predict events.

   Wiccans believe in a modernised form of witchcraft.

   3 more examples

   We may smile now to hear witchcraft spoken seriously of; but we forget perhaps that a belief in it is like a belief in the after appearance of the dead among the blue waters, the green graves, the still starry atmosphere and the great shadowy woods of our earth; […]

   1828, John Neal, chapter I, in Rachel Dyer: A North American Story, Portland, Me.: Shirley and Hyde, →OCLC, page 22

   Such witchcraft has no power now to show itself, because the people don't believe in it any more.

   1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], “A Day with the Capercailzies”, in H. L. Brækstad, transl., Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 84

   The way Green practices witchcraft defies stereotypes of broomstick-wielding, cauldron-toting, pointy-hatted witches. He doesn’t belong to a coven. He’s not Wiccan or pagan, religions that are rooted in witchcraft. He has a few cats, though they’re better suited for snuggling than serving as helpful familiars.

   2024 October 26, Scottie Andrew, “Witches walk among us — but they’re not like the fictional ones you grew up with”, in CNN, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2025

   Synonyms: witchdom, witchery, witchwork, bewitchery, black arts, charmwork, conjuration, conjuring

2. uncountableusuallyBlack magic; the use of witchcraft for evil means.

   The Bible warns against the use of witchcraft and sorcery.

   Synonyms: dark magic, goety, sorcery, black magic, cacomagic, dark magic, goety, sorcery

3. uncountableusuallySomething, such as an advanced technology, that seems almost magical.

   There can be no denying that the more than 100 exhibiting companies and divisions also gave full play to examples of their latest technological witchcraft, as befits the foremost US aerospace event.

   1987, Air Force Magazine, volume 70, page 88

   Synonyms: wizardry

In a sentence

Wiccans believe in a modernised form of witchcraft.

Where it comes from

1. Old Englishwiċċecræft
2. Middle Englishwicchecraft
3. Englishwitchcraft

From Middle English wicchecraft, wicchecreft, from Old English wiċċecræft, equivalent to witch + -craft.