magical
MAJ-ih-kuhl
Magical (adj) means relating to or produced by magic. Example: “In the story, a magical ring lets its owner speak to animals.”
adj
1
Relating to or produced by magic.
"In the story, a magical ring lets its owner speak to animals."
"The children read about a magical forest where trees can talk."
"The wizard cast a magical shield around the castle."
2
Wonderfully delightful or enchanting.
"Walking through the snowy village at night felt truly magical."
"It was a magical moment when the baby took her first steps."
"They had a magical evening watching the fireworks over the harbour."
"This latest album, Too Hot To Sleep, concentrates more on his "natural" voice, which is baritone. But on those tunes where he exercises that magical falsetto, I just found myself shaking my head and saying "My, my, my!""
— Julie Coles, Sylvester: Too Hot (1981)
"The fireworks created a magical atmosphere in that beautiful summer night."
How to use magical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literally related to magic, or figuratively describing something delightfully special.
Common pairings
a magical evening
magical powers
feel magical
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more magical
- Superlative
- most magical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the story, a _____ ring lets its owner speak to animals.
Etymology
From magic + the adjective-forming suffix -al.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for magical
See all rhymes for magical →Frequently asked questions
What does “magical” mean?
The word “magical” means relating to or produced by magic. In plain terms, either literally related to magic, or figuratively describing something delightfully special.
How do you pronounce “magical”?
“Magical” is pronounced MAJ-ih-kuhl (/ˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “magical” in a sentence?
Here is “magical” used in a sentence: “The wizard cast a magical shield around the castle.”
What is another word for “magical”?
Words with a similar meaning to “magical” include mystic, mystical, numinous, sorcerous, sortilegious and thaumaturgic.
What is the opposite of “magical”?
The opposite of “magical” — its antonyms — are nonmystic, nonmagical, nonmystical, unmagical and unmystic.
What part of speech is “magical”?
“Magical” is an adjective.
Is “magical” a common word?
“Magical” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “magical” have?
“Magical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or produced by magic.
What is the difference between 'magical' and 'magic' as adjectives?
Both can describe something relating to magic, and phrases like 'magic powers' and 'magical powers' overlap. However, 'magical' more readily carries the extended sense of wonderfully delightful or enchanting, as in 'a magical evening', where 'magic' would sound odd.
When should you use 'magical' instead of 'enchanting'?
Use 'magical' when you want to suggest either literal magic or a wonderfully delightful, almost dreamlike quality. 'Enchanting' focuses purely on charm and delight. A magical show might involve actual tricks, while an enchanting one is simply captivating.
What nouns commonly pair with 'magical'?
Common collocations include 'magical moment', 'magical experience', 'magical powers', 'magical creature', and 'magical kingdom'. The first two draw on the delightful, enchanting sense, while the others point to literal magic.
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