noun

coven

KUHV-uhn

Coven (noun) means a group or gathering of witches. Example: “The novel's villain leads a secret coven of witches.”

noun

A group or gathering of witches.

"The novel's villain leads a secret coven of witches."

"The coven met at midnight under the full moon."

More loosely, any small, tight-knit group with shared interests, sometimes used with a slightly sinister or gossipy tone.

"A coven of critics gathered backstage after the show."

How to use coven

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA gathering of witches, or informally, any close-knit clique.

Common pairings

a coven of witches join a coven

Word forms

covens plural

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The novel's villain leads a secret _____ of witches.

Etymology

From Old French covent, ultimately from Latin conveniō ("to come together") — it's actually a doublet of the word "convent," which took a more religious path in meaning.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for coven

oven woven proven unproven Beethoven

See all rhymes for coven →

Frequently asked questions

What does “coven” mean?

The word “coven” means a group or gathering of witches. In plain terms, a gathering of witches, or informally, any close-knit clique.

How do you pronounce “coven”?

“Coven” is pronounced KUHV-uhn (/ˈkʌv.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “coven” in a sentence?

Here is “coven” used in a sentence: “The novel's villain leads a secret coven of witches.”

What part of speech is “coven”?

“Coven” is a noun.

Where does the word “coven” come from?

The word “coven” comes from Latin. From Old French covent, ultimately from Latin conveniō ("to come together") — it's actually a doublet of the word "convent," which took a more religious path in meaning.

How many meanings does “coven” have?

“Coven” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group or gathering of witches.