noun

necromancy

NEK-ruh-man-see

Necromancy (noun) means the practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to foretell the future or obtain hidden knowledge. Example: “The medieval church condemned necromancy as a form of forbidden magic.”

noun

The practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to foretell the future or obtain hidden knowledge.

"The medieval church condemned necromancy as a form of forbidden magic."

"Ancient sources describe rites of necromancy performed at the mouths of caves."

fiction and gaming In fantasy fiction and games, magic that raises, controls or animates the dead.

"Her character specialises in necromancy and can raise skeletons from fallen enemies."

"Necromancy is outlawed in most of the kingdoms in the setting."

literary Magic in general, especially of a dark or sinister kind.

"The villagers whispered that the old man's cures were necromancy."

How to Use Necromancy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMagic that involves talking to, or raising, dead people.

When to use it

Formal and literary when used of historical or religious practice; entirely ordinary vocabulary within fantasy fiction and video games.

Memory tip

Split it as necro- (dead) plus -mancy (divination), the same ending as in pyromancy and cartomancy.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

necrophilia necropolis sorcery → divination →

Common pairings

practise necromancy accused of necromancy school of necromancy dark necromancy

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The medieval church condemned _____ as a form of forbidden magic.

Etymology

From Greek nekros "dead body" plus manteia "divination", reaching English through Latin and Old French. The medieval Latin form was reshaped as nigromantia, "black divination", which is why the idea of "black magic" attached to the word.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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divination sorcery black magic witchcraft spiritism enchantment wizardry

Related Words

magic ghost spell prophecy trance fascination witchcraft sorcerer

Rhymes for necromancy

nancy fancy Yancy clancy truancy vacancy infancy buoyancy vagrancy constancy pregnancy occupancy

See all rhymes for necromancy →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between necromancy and witchcraft?

Necromancy is specifically magic that involves the dead, whether by consulting spirits or by animating corpses. Witchcraft is a much broader term for magical practice of any kind and carries no particular link to the dead.

Is a necromancer the same as a necrophiliac?

No, and the two are unrelated beyond sharing the Greek root nekros, "dead". A necromancer practises magic involving the dead; necrophilia is a sexual attraction to corpses.

Is necromancy real?

As a historical practice it is real: rituals for summoning the dead are documented in Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman and medieval European sources, and the Bible describes one at Endor. There is no evidence that any such ritual actually contacts the dead.

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