What does "demon" mean?
An evil supernatural being.; An evil spirit resident in or working for Hell; a devil.
Demon
/ˈdiː.mən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An evil supernatural being.; An evil spirit resident in or working for Hell; a devil.
- Grammar: demon is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: devil, fiend, addict, afflatus.
- Useful contrasts: aid, angel, angeles.
- Usage evidence: Hit up on the D-pad, and the background music will change as the background itself becomes the Demon King's castle....
How to use "demon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "demon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "demon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "demon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "demon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "demon" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "devil" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "demon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An evil supernatural being.; An evil spirit resident in or working for Hell; a devil.
"So what does the Gospel of Judas really say? It says that Judas is a specific demon called the "Thirteenth." In certain Gnostic traditions, this is the given name of the king of demons - an entity known as Ialdabaoth who lives in the 13th realm above the earth. Judas is his human alter ego, his undercover agent in the world. These Gnostics equated Ialdabaoth with the Hebrew Yahweh, whom they saw as a jealous and wrathful deity and an opponent of the supreme God whom Jesus came to earth to reveal. Whoever wrote the Gospel of Judas was a harsh critic of mainstream Christianity and its rituals. Because Judas is a demon working for Ialdabaoth, the author believed, when Judas sacrifices Jesus he does so to the demons, not to the supreme God. This mocks mainstream Christians' belief in the atoning value of Jesus' death and in the effectiveness of the Eucharist."
- 2 Acronym of distinct electron motion particle: a quasiparticle, a type of massless neutral electron excitation associated with superconductivity. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 3 Alternative spelling of daemon. alt-of, alternative
- 4 Alternative letter-case form of demon (“card game”). alt-of, uncountable
- 5 an evil supernatural being wordnet
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 An evil supernatural being.; A false god or idol; a Satanic divinity. historical
- 7 someone extremely diligent or skillful wordnet
- 8 An evil supernatural being.; A very wicked or malevolent person; also (in weakened sense) a mischievous person, especially a child.
- 9 a cruel wicked and inhuman person wordnet
- 10 An evil supernatural being.; A source (especially personified) of great evil or wickedness; a destructive feeling or character flaw.
"The demon of stupidity haunts me whenever I open my mouth."
- 11 An evil supernatural being.; A person's fears or anxieties. in-plural
"After a short spell on an adult psychiatric ward, she decided to find her own way to deal with her demons."
- 12 A neutral supernatural being.; A person's inner spirit or genius; a guiding or creative impulse.
"Oh Anthony […] Thy Dæmon that thy spirit which keepes thee, is Noble, Couragious, high vnmatchable."
- 13 A neutral supernatural being.; A tutelary deity or spirit intermediate between the major Olympian gods and mankind, especially a deified hero or the entity which supposedly guided Socrates, telling him what not to do. Greek
- 14 A neutral supernatural being.; A spirit not considered to be inherently evil; a (non-Christian) deity or supernatural being.
- 15 A neutral supernatural being.; A hypothetical entity with special abilities postulated for the sake of a thought experiment in philosophy or physics.
"Let the orders now be that each demon is to stop all molecules from crossing his area in either direction except 100 coming from A, arbitrarily chosen to be let pass into B, and a greater number, having among them less energy but equal momentum, to cross from B to A."
- 16 Someone with great strength, passion or skill for a particular activity, pursuit etc.; an enthusiast.
"He’s a demon at the card tables."
- 17 A type of patience or solitaire (card game) played in the UK and/or US.
"‘That's much the best feeling to have.’ She dealt out the first row of ‘demon’."
- 18 Any of various hesperiid butterflies of the genera Notocrypta and Udaspes.
Proper Noun
- 1 A male given name from Ancient Greek.
"Demon writes that Taurus, the chief captain of Minos, was slain by Theseus at the mouth of the port, in a naval combat as he was sailing out for Athens."
Example
"Hit up on the D-pad, and the background music will change as the background itself becomes the Demon King's castle...."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "demon"?
Common synonyms include: devil, fiend, addict, afflatus, afreet, ahriman.
How do you use "demon" in a sentence?
Hit up on the D-pad, and the background music will change as the background itself becomes the Demon King's castle....
How do you pronounce "demon"?
Pronounced /ˈdiː.mən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English demon, a borrowing from Medieval Latin dēmōn, daemōn (“lar, familiar spirit, guardian spirit”), from Ancient Greek δαίμων (daímōn, “dispenser, god, protective spirit”). Doublet of daimon.
Etymology 2
From distinct electron motion + -on.
Etymology 3
From Maxwell's demon; a derivation from “disk and execution monitor” is generally considered a backronym.
Etymology 4
From Ancient Greek δῆμος (dêmos, “ordinary citizens, common people from a district, in a city-state”).