noun

Voldemort

VOHL-duh-maw

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Voldemort (noun) means Informally, a person or thing so feared or reviled that people avoid naming it directly. Example: “The office treated the failed project like Voldemort — nobody would say its name out loud.”

noun

Informally, a person or thing so feared or reviled that people avoid naming it directly.

"The office treated the failed project like Voldemort — nobody would say its name out loud."

"If you asked me to identify a Voldemort in the myth of “social media,” it would be these people, and not guys like Gary Vaynerchuk." — B. J. Mendelson, Social Media Is Bullshit (2012)

verb

To avoid saying a name directly, instead referring to someone or something with a euphemism.

"They kept Voldemorting the ex-CEO, calling him "the previous leadership.""

How to use Voldemort

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething so dreaded that people dance around naming it directly, borrowed from the Harry Potter villain everyone was afraid to name.

When to use it

Informal and pop-culture in tone; mostly used jokingly.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: Voldemorts
Third person singular: Voldemorts
Past tense: Voldemorted

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The office treated the failed project like _____ — nobody would say its name out loud.

Etymology

From Lord Voldemort, the villain of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels, whose name characters fearfully avoid saying aloud, preferring euphemisms like "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

Frequently asked questions

What does “Voldemort” mean?

The word “Voldemort” means informally, a person or thing so feared or reviled that people avoid naming it directly. In plain terms, something so dreaded that people dance around naming it directly, borrowed from the Harry Potter villain everyone was afraid to name.

How do you pronounce “Voldemort”?

“Voldemort” is pronounced VOHL-duh-maw (/ˈvoʊldəˌmɔɹ(t)/ in IPA).

How do you use “Voldemort” in a sentence?

Here is “Voldemort” used in a sentence: “The office treated the failed project like Voldemort — nobody would say its name out loud.”

What part of speech is “Voldemort”?

Depending on how it is used, “Voldemort” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “Voldemort” have?

“Voldemort” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informally, a person or thing so feared or reviled that people avoid naming it directly.