noun
Common
witch
wihch
Witch (noun) means a person, especially in folklore, believed to have magical powers, particularly one who uses them for harmful purposes. Example: “The witch in the fairy tale stirred her bubbling pot and laughed.”
noun
1
A person, especially in folklore, believed to have magical powers, particularly one who uses them for harmful purposes.
"The witch in the fairy tale stirred her bubbling pot and laughed."
"In the story, an old witch cursed the village well."
"Children dressed as witches for Halloween."
2
A practitioner of Wicca or a related modern pagan spiritual tradition.
"My neighbour is a witch who celebrates the full moon in her garden."
"Some witches today follow nature-based traditions and keep a small altar at home."
"She identifies as a witch and practices seasonal rituals."
verb
1
To cast a spell on someone; to bewitch.
"In the legend, the sorceress witched the prince so that he forgot his own name."
"Do you think the villagers truly believed she could witch their cattle?"
"The old tale claimed the miller had been witched by a jealous rival."
How to use witch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (in folklore, fiction, or modern practice) believed to use magic.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a wicked witch
witch hunt
witch's spell
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Word forms
- Plural
- witches
- Third person singular
- witches
- Past tense
- witched
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The _____ in the fairy tale stirred her bubbling pot and laughed.
Etymology
From Old English wicce ("female witch") and wicca ("male witch, sorcerer"), from a Germanic verb meaning "to practice sorcery," possibly linked to the word wicked.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for witch
See all rhymes for witch →Frequently asked questions
What does “witch” mean?
The word “witch” means a person, especially in folklore, believed to have magical powers, particularly one who uses them for harmful purposes. In plain terms, someone (in folklore, fiction, or modern practice) believed to use magic.
How do you pronounce “witch”?
“Witch” is pronounced wihch (/wɪt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “witch” in a sentence?
Here is “witch” used in a sentence: “In the story, an old witch cursed the village well.”
What is another word for “witch”?
Words with a similar meaning to “witch” include magician, ugly woman, shrew and white sole.
What part of speech is “witch”?
Depending on how it is used, “witch” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “witch” come from?
The word “witch” comes from Old English. From Old English wicce ("female witch") and wicca ("male witch, sorcerer"), from a Germanic verb meaning "to practice sorcery," possibly linked to the word wicked.
Is “witch” a common word?
“Witch” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “witch” have?
“Witch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, especially in folklore, believed to have magical powers, particularly one who uses them for harmful purposes.
What is the difference between a 'witch' and a 'wizard'?
In folklore both practise magic, but 'witch' is traditionally used for a female practitioner and 'wizard' for a male one. Witches are often linked to charms, spells, and, in older stories, harmful magic, while wizards are usually portrayed as learned magic-users. The gender association is a tradition rather than a strict rule.
What is the difference between 'witch' and 'which'?
'Witch' is a noun for a person believed to have magical powers. 'Which' is a pronoun or determiner used in questions and to introduce clauses, as in 'which one?'. They are homophones, so the intended word depends entirely on context.
What is the difference between a 'witch' and a 'Wiccan'?
In folklore a 'witch' is someone believed to have magical powers, and the term often carries negative connotations. A 'Wiccan' is a follower of Wicca, a modern pagan religion, who may call themselves a witch in a spiritual rather than a folklore sense. The words overlap but carry very different tones.
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