| a person in some societies who attempts to cure sickness and to exorcise evil spirits by the use of magic. |

| witch doctor n. Anthropology A sorcerer, prophet, or shamanistic healer, especially among African peoples. Not in scientific use. |
witch doctor
a healer or benevolent worker of magic in a nonliterate society. The term originated in England in the 18th century and is generally considered to be pejorative and anthropologically inaccurate. See also medicine man; shaman.
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