enchantment

noun

en·​chant·​ment in-ˈchant-mənt How to pronounce enchantment (audio)
en-
1
a
: the act or art of enchanting
b
: the quality or state of being enchanted
As the newness of the projects wore off, however, their enchantment with the apartment faded.Charles Whitaker
2
: something that enchants
the enchantments of sailing
3
: a magic spell
"Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Harry asked. "Spells—enchantments," said Hagrid …J. K. Rowling
"She has made an enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter here and never Christmas."C. S. Lewis

Examples of enchantment in a Sentence

Our enchantment faded when we found that the house needed even more repairs. the enchantment of a snowy field bathed in moonlight He writes about the dangers as well as the enchantments of sailing. stories about wizards and enchantments
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At first glance, however, Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with its whimsical magic and fantastical elements, is an unlikely fit for Soviet children’s literature, which favored themes of hard work and collective struggle over wish fulfillment and enchantment. Christin Bohnke, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2025 Sometimes Goodman seems a little too audibly aware of the enchantment of her formula. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025 Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Mercury will slip into poetic Pisces, adding a layer of intuition and enchantment to our communication style. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025 So grab your favorite streaming device, line up some snacks, and let the enchantment unfold. Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enchantment

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of enchantment was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Enchantment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enchantment. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

enchantment

noun
en·​chant·​ment in-ˈchant-mənt How to pronounce enchantment (audio)
1
: the act or art of enchanting : the state of being enchanted
2
: something that enchants : spell

More from Merriam-Webster on enchantment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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