Necromancy Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms necromancy American [nek-ruh-man-see] / ˈnɛk rəˌmæn si /

noun

1. a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead; black art.

2. magic in general, especially that practiced by a witch or sorcerer; sorcery; witchcraft; conjuration.

necromancy British / ˈnɛkrəʊˌmænsɪ /

noun

1. the art or practice of supposedly conjuring up the dead, esp in order to obtain from them knowledge of the future

2. black magic; sorcery

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What is necromancy? Necromancy is a form of magic or divination in which a person communicates with the dead, as in The evil sorcerer used vile necromancy to get information on his enemies. Necromancy can also refer to magic or witchcraft in general.Often, necromancy is depicted as conjuring up a spirit or temporarily raising the dead. The supposed goal of necromancy is to gain information from the dead, especially about the future.A person who performs necromancy is called a necromancer, as in The necromancer performed a dark ritual in the secluded graveyard. The adjective necromantic refers to things related to necromancy, as in The powerful witch had a wide array of necromantic spells. Example: The wicked magician used necromancy to learn powerful spells from the spirits of dead wizards.

Related Words

See magic.

Other Word Forms

• necromancer noun
• necromantic adjective
• necromantically adverb

Etymology

Origin of necromancy

First recorded in 1250–1300; necro- + -mancy; replacing Middle English nigromancie, from Medieval Latin nigromantīa for Late Latin necromantīa, from Greek nekromanteía; by folk etymology nigro- (combining form of Latin niger “black”) was substituted in Medieval Latin for the original necro-

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Social media users have questioned the ethics of the multiple-scene cameo, with some calling it “digital necromancy.”

From Los Angeles Times

But there’s a difference between breathing new life into a three-decade-old title and whatever awkward necromancy unnaturally extending the life of “Frasier” achieves without adding fresh layers to its eponymous figure.

From Salon

On that plot description alone, “Perpetrator” may sound conventional — like “Veronica Mars” but with a touch of necromancy.

From Los Angeles Times

Unless Musk is beta testing some type of necromancy technology and got it to work – neither scenario is likely – that did not happen.

From Salon

There’s too much money at stake for the project’s backers not to deploy legal necromancy to save it.

From Seattle Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.