demon
Demon (noun) means an evil supernatural being, often associated with hell or wickedness. Example: “In the film, a priest tries to cast the demon out of the old house.”
How to use demon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA frightening evil spirit — or, more loosely, an inner struggle or someone who's fiercely good at something.
The word originally meant a neutral or even helpful spirit in ancient Greek thought; the "evil being" sense developed later through religious use.
Word forms
demons plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the film, a priest tries to cast the _____ out of the old house.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin dēmōn, borrowed from Ancient Greek daímōn, originally meaning a protective or guiding spirit rather than something evil.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for demon
See all rhymes for demon →Frequently asked questions
What does “demon” mean?
The word “demon” means an evil supernatural being, often associated with hell or wickedness. In plain terms, a frightening evil spirit — or, more loosely, an inner struggle or someone who's fiercely good at something.
How do you pronounce “demon”?
“Demon” is pronounced DEE-muhn (/ˈdiː.mən/ in IPA).
How do you use “demon” in a sentence?
Here is “demon” used in a sentence: “In the film, a priest tries to cast the demon out of the old house.”
What is another word for “demon”?
Words with a similar meaning to “demon” include genius, tutelary deity, barghest, bogie, bogeyman and boggard.
What part of speech is “demon”?
“Demon” is a noun.
Where does the word “demon” come from?
The word “demon” comes from Ancient Greek. From Medieval Latin dēmōn, borrowed from Ancient Greek daímōn, originally meaning a protective or guiding spirit rather than something evil.
Is “demon” a common word?
“Demon” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “demon” have?
“Demon” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an evil supernatural being, often associated with hell or wickedness.
What is the difference between a demon and a devil?
In everyday English the words overlap: both name an evil supernatural being. Demon is the general term for any such spirit, while devil often points to a chief evil power — especially "the Devil" with a capital D in Christian tradition. Informally, devil can also be affectionate, as in "you little devil," in a way demon usually is not.
What is the difference between demon and daemon?
A demon is an evil supernatural being. Daemon is an older spelling used in classical and literary contexts, where it can mean a guiding spirit rather than an evil one, and in computing it names a background program that runs without direct user control — so a mail daemon on a server is nothing sinister.
Is calling someone a demon always an insult?
No. Applied to people, demon often praises remarkable skill, energy, or intensity, as in "a demon bowler" or "she's a demon at chess." Compounds like "speed demon" carry the same admiring, if slightly wry, tone.