: 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
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
Wicca, which emerged in the 1940s in England, is the original form of modern Pagan Witchcraft. Meg Yardley
Recent Examples on the WebAnd then there was going to be a case involving witchcraft.WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 Books on mystical topics — paganism, witchcraft, dreams, crystals, past life regression, runes — are sold, as well as journals to record mystical experiments. Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2022 Valerie Kivelson is a scholar of medieval and early modern Russia whose work focuses on witchcraft, cartography and the relationships between religion, politics and magic. Valerie Kivelson, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 June 2022 For example, mental disorders – particularly those that cause psychosis – are believed even by some healthcare professionals, to be caused by supernatural forces such as witchcraft, evil spirits or punishment by God. Adie Vanessa Offiong, CNN, 2 June 2022 Perhaps a visit to Crow Haven Corner, Salem's premier purveyor of witchcraft supplies, will help distract her. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Gwyn has formed a coven with her family members and is happily running her witchcraft shop until Wells opens a rival shop right across the street. Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 29 Aug. 2022 The colony passed a bill overturning the witchcraft convictions, mentioning 22 individuals by name, in 1711. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Aug. 2022 Can water witchcraft actually help find hidden underground H2O?Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022 See More
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of witchcraft was before the 12th century