witch doctor

American  

noun

1. a person in some societies who attempts to cure sickness and to exorcise evil spirits by the use of magic.

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witch doctor British  

noun

1. Also called: shaman.   medicine man.  a man in certain societies, esp preliterate ones, who appears to possess magical powers, used esp to cure sickness but also to harm people

2. a person who seeks out or hunts witches in some African tribal cultures

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Etymology

Origin of witch doctor

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

In Namibia, “for a witch doctor to make a ruling on whether or not you are a witch, you have to pay him a lot of money,” Holtzhausen says.

From Scientific American • May 31, 2023

French media reports said Pogba told investigators the extortionists wanted to discredit him by claiming he asked a witch doctor to cast a spell on Mbappe — an allegation denied by Pogba.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 31, 2022

“It’s an African American witch doctor talking about fictional fantasy and monsters and ghouls,” Ms. Brown said.

From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2022

Steinbeck said he got the hummingbird from a witch doctor, and wrote that it holds “just about all the magic there is in the world.”

From Washington Times • Jan. 29, 2020

The witch doctor then signalled the old woman to bring his medicine bag.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane