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Meaning of voodoo in English:

voodoo

Pronunciation /?vu?du?/

See synonyms for voodoo

Translate voodoo into Spanish

noun

mass noun

  • 1A religion practised in parts of the Caribbean and the southern US, combining elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magical and religious rites, and characterized by sorcery and spirit possession.

    ‘they can use voodoo to help people’
    • ‘if you understand voodoo you can talk to these spirits’
    • ‘a voodoo doll’
    • ‘a voodoo priest’
    • ‘But it also plays with core elements of the Haitian voodoo tradition, of Caribbean magic, and of African rituals as well.’
    • ‘The West African and trans-Caribbean influences in the South are best seen in spiritual ceremonies that evoke elements from voodoo rituals.’
    • ‘These beliefs in establishing an actual connection with the world beyond death are closer to the beliefs of African-based religions such as voodoo than to those of Christianity.’
    • ‘Others looked to traditions that survived to the present day: to African animism, to Santeria and voodoo, to American Indian religions, even to Hinduism.’
    • ‘African and Caribbean slaves combined Christianity and voodoo; whites traded in coffin spoons, pored over dream books, said the Lord's Prayer backward to ward off rain.’
    • ‘Followers of spirit worship and voodoo, which was introduced into the country by Haitian immigrants, are thought to number about 60,000.’
    • ‘Before that, zombie films amounted to cheesy 1930s-inspired movies about voodoo cults.’
    • ‘While some tourists may think it is thrilling to shop at a voodoo supply store or to visit the tomb of Marie Laveau, those same people might not want to sleep in a house that was haunted by voodoo spirits.’
    • ‘Haiti has just recognized voodoo as an official religion.’
    • ‘As a religion, voodoo was indeed a critical force against the external authority of French colonial and American imperial powers.’
    • ‘To boost business the team developed new product lines, and discovered an independent design team in Thailand that employs traditional skills to create handmade voodoo dolls.’
    • ‘According to widespread Haitian beliefs, voodoo sorcerers would administer a ‘magic powder’ to their victim.’
    • ‘While the poems work as dramatic monologues in their own right, they are also metaphors for the human search for faith and truth, in art, religion and, yes, even voodoo dolls.’
    • ‘When people hear the word ‘mystic’, what immediately comes to mind is quackery, voodoo, black magic and the like.’
    • ‘Advocates say voodoo is a legitimate African-based religion that has been unfairly maligned in movies and popular culture.’
    • ‘An expert on African ritual practices who has been advising the police on the case said that it might be linked to West African voodoo.’
    • ‘The hundreds of spirits in the voodoo pantheon invest their power in both African imagery and in corresponding identities, including Catholic saints.’
    • ‘Beyond the evil, pin-covered voodoo dolls and scary zombies of clichéd movie lore lies the complex tapestry of real-life Haitian Vodoun or Voodoo.’
    • ‘Two autobiographical pieces from that time interpreted the illness through voodoo imagery and, he believes, produced a cure.’
    • ‘Nevertheless, most of what a person learns of her in the touristy parts of the French Quarter are myths, twisted truths and lies - as is often the case with most things voodoo.’
    1. 1.1count noun A person skilled in voodoo.

verbvoodoos, voodooing, voodooed

[with object]

  • Affect (someone) by the practice of voodoo.

    ‘someone had voodooed her’
    • ‘‘So let me get this straight,’ I said through hot tears, ‘you've been… voodooing the people around you, to get your way.’’

Origin

Early 19th century from Louisiana French, from Kwa vod?.