mystic

mystic — noun

1. a person who seeks a direct, personal experience of God or ultimate reality thro

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who seeks a direct, personal experience of God or ultimate reality through deep prayer, meditation, or contemplation, rather than through formal religious teachings alone

Example

The medieval mystic spent thirty years living alone in a small stone hut.

noun phrase: medieval mystic

Mateo described his journey as a mystic searching for truth beyond everyday life.

Common collocations
  • medieval mystic
  • Christian mystic
  • Sufi mystic
  • true mystic
  • great mystic
Synonyms
  • seeker

    broader term for anyone searching for spiritual truth, not necessarily through direct divine experience

  • contemplative

    focuses on the method (prayer/meditation) rather than the goal of divine union

  • visionary

    emphasizes seeing visions or receiving revelations; can be used for non-religious insights too

Grammar Patterns

modifier + mystic

mystic + relative clause

Usage Note

Frequently appears with a religious tradition as a modifier: 'Christian mystic', 'Sufi mystic', 'Hindu mystic'. The defining characteristic is a direct, personal encounter with the divine — not just belief or study.

Common Mistakes

John is a mystical.
John is a mystic.
'mystic' is the noun for a person; 'mystical' is an adjective and cannot stand alone as a noun.
She called herself a mystic because she liked candles.
She called herself a mystic because she practiced daily meditation.
'mystic' implies a serious spiritual practice, not just an interest in atmospheric things.
Idioms

Mystic

idiom

a river in eastern Massachusetts, USA, that flows southeast through several towns and into Boston Harbor

The Mystic River flows through Somerville and Everett before reaching the harbor.

Chidi took a photograph of the Mystic River from the bridge at sunset.

mystic — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words relate to non-material or transcendent experience, but 'mystic' (adj/2) specifically describes a direct, personal encounter with the divine or a hidden spiritual unity — not merely general religious observance. 'Mystical' is the more common adjective form and can almost always replace 'mystic' in this sense, though 'mystical' sometimes adds a tone of wonder or awe. 'Spiritual' is far broader, covering any connection to the soul or inner life without necessarily implying divine contact. 'Transcendental' emphasizes going beyond ordinary human experience, often through philosophy or intuition rather than religious practice. 'Religious' is tied to organized worship and institutions. For example: 'She had a mystic experience during prayer' suggests direct divine contact, whereas 'She had a spiritual experience' could mean any profound inner feeling.

mystical ↗spiritual ↗transcendentalreligious ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • mystic tradition

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Mystic comes from the Greek word mystikos, meaning 'of secret rites' or 'initiated.' The Greek root myein means 'to close' — referring to the practice of closing one's eyes or lips during initiation ceremonies in ancient mystery religions. The word passed through Latin (mysticus) and Old French (mistique) before entering English in the 1300s. The original connection to secrecy and initiation still echoes in both modern senses: the hidden magic of sense 1 and the hidden spiritual truth of sense 2.