witchcraft

IPA/ˈwɪtʃkrɑːft/
KK[wˈɪtʃkrˌæft]IPA/ˈwɪtʃkræft/

witchcraft — noun

1. traditional practices involving magic spells and rituals that people believe can

1.nounB2
Definition

traditional practices involving magic spells and rituals that people believe can influence events, heal illnesses, or bring harm to others

Example

The villagers accused the old woman of witchcraft when their cattle began to die mysteriously.

accused of witchcraft — used in historical persecution context

Many people tried for witchcraft in the 1600s were local healers or midwives.

Common collocations
  • accused of witchcraft
  • witchcraft trial
  • witchcraft and sorcery
  • practise witchcraft
Synonyms
  • sorcery

    more negative and associated with evil or harmful magic

  • magic

    broader term that includes both supernatural and stage magic

  • black magic

    specifically refers to magic intended to cause harm

Usage Note

Historically, this sense carried strong negative associations and was often used to justify persecution. In modern contexts, the word can still provoke fear or misunderstanding depending on the audience.

Common Mistakes

She practiced witchcraft by performing card tricks at the party.
She performed card tricks at the party.
Stage magic or sleight of hand is not witchcraft, which involves claimed supernatural powers.

2. a modern spiritual or religious system, such as Wicca, that centres on the pract

2.nounB2
Definition

a modern spiritual or religious system, such as Wicca, that centres on the practice of magic, reverence for nature, and seasonal ceremonies

Example

Adina joined a local coven to explore witchcraft as a nature-based spiritual path.

coven + nature-based spiritual path — modern religious practice

For many neo-pagan groups, witchcraft involves celebrating the solstices and working with herbs and crystals.

neo-pagan groups + celebrating solstices — religious ritual context

Common collocations
  • practice of witchcraft
  • witchcraft tradition
  • witchcraft and paganism
  • modern witchcraft
Synonyms
  • Wicca

    a specific organised neo-pagan religion that includes witchcraft practices

  • paganism

    broader term for earth-centred spiritual traditions, not all of which involve witchcraft

  • the Craft

    insider term used by practitioners to refer to their tradition

Usage Note

Practitioners of this sense often refer to witchcraft as 'the Craft' and view it as a legitimate religion. Unlike the traditional sense, this meaning carries no inherent negative judgement and is protected under religious freedom laws in many countries.

Common Mistakes

Practitioners of neo-pagan witchcraft worship the devil.
Most practitioners of neo-pagan witchcraft do not believe in the devil at all.
The modern religious sense has no connection to Satanism or devil worship; it is typically focused on nature and ancient deities.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Witchcraft, sorcery, and magic overlap in meaning, but differ in cultural weight. Witchcraft is the broadest of the three when referring to folk traditions — it implies a practiced skill set passed down within a community, often with both healing and harmful applications. Sorcery carries a stronger negative tone and suggests magic performed for selfish or evil ends, often through the summoning of spirits. Magic is the most general term and covers everything from supernatural feats to stage illusions. Wizardry is typically found in fantasy fiction and implies learned, scholarly magic rather than inherited or folk practices. For example, a historian might write about witchcraft trials in Salem, but a fantasy novel describes a wizard's wizardry.

sorcery ↗magic ↗witchcraft ↗wizardry

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • witchcraft and sorcery
  • witchcraft trial
  • accusation of witchcraft
  • practice of witchcraft

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word comes from Old English 'wiccecræft', a compound of 'wicce' (a female witch) and 'cræft' (skill, power, or art). It has been used continuously in English since at least the early medieval period, originally referring to the supposed supernatural powers of individuals outside the Christian church. The modern religious sense emerged in the mid-20th century with the revival of pagan traditions.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a