WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
sha•man /ˈʃɑmən, ˈʃeɪ-, ˈʃæmən/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Anthropology(esp. among certain tribal peoples) a person who communicates between the natural and the supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, etc.
sha•man
(shä′mən, shā′-, sham′ən),USA pronunciation n.
sha•man•ic
(shə man′ik),USA pronunciation adj.
- Anthropology(esp. among certain tribal peoples) a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etc.
- Evenki ŝamān, samān
- Russian shamán, probably
- German Schamane
- 1690–1700;
'shamanic' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):