demon
Pluraldemons
- 1An evil spirit, or a god or idol that people believed was evil.
Like a monster in a scary story, but believed to be a real spirit.
The movie showed a demon rising from a pit of fire.
Children sometimes fear that a demon hides under the bed.
UsagePeople say someone is possessed by a demon.
Oppositeangel
Note
- 2A strong bad feeling or problem inside a person, like fear or anger, that troubles them for a long time.
Like a shadow that follows you and won't go away.
She faced her demons and finally talked about the accident.
The fear of failure was a demon he could never silence.
UsageSay fight your demons or deal with your demons.
Similartorment
Note
- 3A spirit or god that is not evil, such as one that people in ancient Greece believed guided a person.
Like a spirit in a story that isn't good or bad: just powerful.
In some old stories a demon could be kind and help travelers.
The villagers honored a forest demon as a protector.
Similarspirit
- 4A very cruel person, or, more gently, a child who behaves badly.
Like calling someone a monster: either really bad, or just playfully naughty.
My little cousin was a demon today, drawing on every wall.
That little demon hid my keys again!
UsageSay a little demon about a naughty child.
- 5A person who is very good at something or does it with great energy.
Like calling someone a machine because they work so fast and so well.
She is a demon on the tennis court.
He's a real demon for hard work.
UsageSay someone is a demon at chess, or works like a demon.
Similarwizard, whiz, ace, fiend, master
Oppositenovice
Note
Less common meanings
- 6An imaginary being with special powers, used to test an idea in science or philosophy.
Like a make-believe helper in a puzzle who can do impossible things.
The teacher described a demon that could sort fast and slow particles.
Philosophers imagine a demon that might be tricking our senses.
Note
- 7
- 8A kind of card game you play alone to build cards into order.
Like a puzzle you solve with cards all by yourself.
She likes to play demon when she can't sleep.
He dealt out a game of demon on the kitchen table.
UsageSay play demon, with no "a".
Note
- 9A kind of small, fast-flying butterfly from certain tropical groups.
- 10In physics, a ripple in a metal where groups of electrons move against each other, named from distinct electron motion plus -on.
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English demon, from Latin dēmōn (a spirit), from Ancient Greek daímōn, meaning a god or protective spirit.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts
- English demon comes from Middle English demon. en.wiktionary.org
- Middle English demon derives from Latin dēmōn. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin word denoted a spirit. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin word derives from Ancient Greek daímōn. en.wiktionary.org
- Ancient Greek daímōn meant a god or protective spirit. en.wiktionary.org