What does "juju" mean?
A fetish or charm believed by West Africans to have magical or supernatural powers.
Juju
/ˈd͡ʒuːd͡ʒu/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A fetish or charm believed by West Africans to have magical or supernatural powers.
- Grammar: juju is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: alchemy, amulet, aura, charm.
- Useful contrasts: bad luck, mundanity, natural cause.
- Usage evidence: Pendants round the neck, bangles round the wrists or ankles, potatoes or nutmegs in the pocket are as old or older than civilisation, carrying the same prophylactic magic as any juju in an African witchdoctor's armamentarium.
How to use "juju"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "juju" 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 "juju" 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 "juju" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "juju" 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 "juju" is acting as noun, slang 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 "alchemy" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "juju", 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 A fetish or charm believed by West Africans to have magical or supernatural powers. countable
"Pendants round the neck, bangles round the wrists or ankles, potatoes or nutmegs in the pocket are as old or older than civilisation, carrying the same prophylactic magic as any juju in an African witchdoctor's armamentarium."
- 2 A marijuana cigarette; a joint. slang
"‘I knew a guy once who smoked jujus,’ she said. ‘Three highballs and three sticks of tea and it took a pipe wrench to get him off the chandelier.’"
- 3 Synonym of jùjú (“music genre”). uncountable
- 4 a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers wordnet
- 5 The magical or supernatural power of such a charm. uncountable
"They are believed to be "Ju-Ju" or were-leopards, and in this guise to roam through the forest in bands, bent on evil and destruction."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 the power associated with a juju wordnet
- 7 The (usually negative) karmic consequences of an action or behavior. countable, informal, uncountable
"That's some bad juju."
Antonyms
Example
"Pendants round the neck, bangles round the wrists or ankles, potatoes or nutmegs in the pocket are as old or older than civilisation, carrying the same prophylactic magic as any juju in an African witchdoctor's armamentarium."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "juju"?
Common synonyms include: alchemy, amulet, aura, charm, divination, enchantment.
How do you use "juju" in a sentence?
Pendants round the neck, bangles round the wrists or ankles, potatoes or nutmegs in the pocket are as old or older than civilisation, carrying the same prophylactic magic as any juju in an African witchdoctor's armamentarium.
How do you pronounce "juju"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒuːd͡ʒu/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From a West African language, probably originally from French joujou.
Etymology 2
Reduplication of -ju- in marijuana.