witch

witch — noun

1. In stories and traditional folk beliefs, a woman who possesses magic that she ca

1.nounA2
Definition

In stories and traditional folk beliefs, a woman who possesses magic that she can use to bring good fortune to others or to cause trouble and misfortune.

Example

A witch turned a prince into a frog with a wave of her wand.

verb pattern: witch + turned [person] into [animal]

The villagers thought the woman near the forest was a witch who made healing potions.

relative clause: witch + who + verb

Common collocations
  • cast a spell
  • fly on a broomstick
  • brew a potion
  • black cat
  • cursed someone
  • pointed hat
Synonyms
  • sorceress

    more formal or literary; often used in epic fantasy novels rather than everyday stories

  • wizard

    male counterpart, but implies wisdom and formal training in magic rather than innate or folkloric power

  • enchantress

    emphasises the power to charm or attract through magic, often in romantic contexts

Antonyms

Common Mistakes

She is a witch' (when trying to compliment a woman's mysterious beauty).
She has a mysterious charm about her.
Using 'witch' as a compliment is rare and misunderstood; most people hear only the negative or fantasy meaning.

2. An insulting and offensive word for a woman who is seen as mean, unkind, or bad-

2.nounB2
Definition

An insulting and offensive word for a woman who is seen as mean, unkind, or bad-tempered. Avoid using this word to describe a real person.

Example

Roya called her neighbour a witch after the argument about the barking dog.

disapproving / insulting usage

The children whispered that their neighbour was a witch because she never smiled.

childish insult, not literal

Common collocations
  • old witch
  • call someone a witch
Synonyms
  • hag

    even stronger negative connotation, often implies old age as well; very offensive

  • crone

    offensive when used as an insult; also a neutral term for old woman in folklore studies

Usage Note

This sense is offensive and derogatory. It is unrelated to the magical meaning in sense 1. Calling someone 'a witch' in this way can cause deep offence and should be avoided in polite conversation. The label 'informal' here understates the seriousness — this is a sharp insult.

Common Mistakes

The boss is such a witch.
The boss is very difficult to work with.
Using 'witch' as an insult is offensive and unprofessional.

3. A person who observes a contemporary nature-based spiritual path, like Wicca, an

3.nounC1
Definition

A person who observes a contemporary nature-based spiritual path, like Wicca, and performs witchcraft as part of their religious practice — often within a group or coven.

Example

Saira has practiced as a witch in the Wiccan tradition for more than twelve years.

religious practice context

The witch led a ceremony in the park to celebrate the spring equinox with songs.

Common collocations
  • practice as a witch
  • Wiccan witch
  • witch community
  • celebrate the sabbats
  • cast a circle
Synonyms
  • Wiccan

    more specific: a Wiccan follows the Wiccan religion specifically, while 'witch' can include other neo-pagan traditions

  • pagan

    broader term covering many nature-based religions, not all of which practice witchcraft

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 refers to a fictional or folkloric figure, while this sense describes a real person who follows a modern religious or spiritual path. Many contemporary witches do not believe in harmful magic and emphasise nature-based ethics. Respect the term as a self-chosen religious identity.

Common Mistakes

She says she is a witch — does she cast evil spells on people?
She says she is a witch
she follows the Wiccan religion and celebrates nature.' — Modern witchcraft is a recognised spiritual practice, not about harming others.
Idioms

witch hunt

idiom

A campaign of persecution against people who hold different or unpopular views, especially in politics, the workplace, or public life. The term comes from the historical persecution of people accused of witchcraft in early modern Europe and America.

The senator called the investigation a witch hunt designed to destroy his reputation.

During the McCarthy era, many artists lost their jobs in the witch hunt for suspected communists.

a witch’s/an evil brew

idiom

A drink that tastes very bad and is made from many different things.

Grandma called the medicine a witch's brew, but I drank it anyway.

The smoothie looked like an evil brew, so Maya refused to taste it.

witch — verb

Word family

  • witchcraft
    nounB1
  • witchy
    adjectiveC1
  • bewitch
    verbB2
  • bewitching
    adjectiveB2
  • wizard
    nounA2
  • warlock
    nounC1
  • Wicca
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe beings with magical ability, but they differ in gender, register, and connotation. Witch is the most common and neutral term for a female magic-user in folklore, though it carries centuries of negative association from the witch trials. Sorceress sounds more formal and literary — you find her in epic fantasy novels and classical myths, often wielding trained, studied magic rather than innate power. Enchantress focuses on the power to attract and charm through magic, frequently in romantic tales; her magic works through beauty and persuasion as much as spells. Warlock is the male equivalent of witch, but is less common and often implies evil magic. In modern fiction, witch is sometimes used for male characters too, while warlock remains strongly marked as sinister.

witch ↗sorceressenchantresswarlock

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word witch comes from Old English wicce (feminine) and wicca (masculine), from a Proto-Germanic root *wikkjaz meaning 'one who practices magic or divination.' The masculine form wicca gave us the modern word Wicca, the neo-pagan religion. During the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, the meaning narrowed to focus on women accused of making pacts with the Devil, leading to the tragic witch hunts of Europe and colonial America. In the 20th century, the word was reclaimed by neo-pagan movements as a positive religious identity.