Superstition meaning

so͝o'pər-stĭsh'ən
Any belief, based on fear or ignorance, that is inconsistent with the known laws of science or with what is considered as true and rational; esp., such a belief in charms, omens, the supernatural, etc.
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Superstition is a belief based on fear or ignorance and not on the laws of science.

An example of superstition is thinking it's bad luck to walk under a ladder.

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An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
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Any action or practice based on such a belief.
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Such beliefs collectively.
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A belief, not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, that future events may be influenced by one's behaviour in some magical or mystical way.
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Origin of superstition

  • Middle English supersticion from Old French superstition from Latin superstitiō superstitiōn- from superstes superstit- standing over stā- in Indo-European roots
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Superstition Sentence Examples

  • He had fits of superstition which in healthier moments he despised.

  • This superstition dominated Scotland.

  • The young king regarded him with an affection which the superstition of the time attributed to witchcraft.

  • The old Hebrew prohibition of graven images was surely based on a like superstition, so far as it was not merely due to the physical impossibility for nomads of heavy statues that do not admit of being carried from camp to camp and from pasture to pasture.

  • Superstition also entered largely into the choice of remedies.

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Words near superstition in the Dictionary