witch

A witch is a person believed to practice magic or witchcraft. In English, the word traces back to Old English wicce, a term for a practitioner of magical arts, with a feminine form, though related terms appear in other Germanic languages as well. Across cultures, definitions of witchcraft range from healing and divination to harm or sorcery, and the term has carried pejorative, neutral, and self-identifying meanings.

Historically in Europe, belief in witches and witchcraft led to social panics and prosecutions, notably during the early modern period (roughly the 15th to 18th centuries). Trials and executions occurred in many regions, influenced by religious, political, and economic tensions. Accusations often targeted women, but men were involved as well. Procedures varied, but many cases relied on confessions obtained under duress, rumors, or maleficia claims connected to illness, crop failure, or misfortune.

Beyond Europe, ideas about witches appear in diverse folk traditions. In some contexts, witches are feared as malicious sorcerers who harm people, cattle, or crops; in others, they are respected healers, midwives, or wise persons with knowledge of herbs, protection rites, or divination. The figure may be linked to the devil in Christian contexts or to nature powers, ancestral spirits, or trickster traditions in other belief systems.

In contemporary times, many people identify as witches as part of modern spiritual or cultural practice. Some follow reconstructed or solitary forms of paganism, including Wicca, emphasizing ethical codes, seasonal rites, and spellcraft. Others use the label in secular or community contexts to express personal empowerment or solidarity. Attitudes toward witchcraft vary widely by country and over time.