juju

1 of 2

noun (1)

ju·​ju ˈjü-(ˌ)jü How to pronounce juju (audio)
Synonyms of jujunext
1
: a fetish, charm, or amulet of West African peoples
2
: the magic attributed to or associated with jujus

juju

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a style of West African music that is characterized by a rapid beat, the use of percussion instruments, and vocal harmonies

Examples of juju in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Sacrifice a Hot ’n’ Ready halfway between second and third base in Comerica Park in hopes of breaking up the bad juju there? — Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 17 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

of W. African origin; akin to the source of Hausa jùju fetish

Noun (2)

Yoruba jújù

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of juju was in 1823

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Cite this Entry

“Juju.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juju. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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