Prestidigitation
//ˌpɹɛstɪˌdɪd͡ʒɪˈteɪʃən// noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands. countable, uncountable
"My favorite prestidigitation was when he pulled the live dove out of that tiny scarf."
- 2 manual dexterity in the execution of tricks wordnet
- 3 A show of skill or deceitful cleverness. broadly, countable, uncountable
"His writing was peppered with verbal tricks and prestidigitation."
Example
More examples"My favorite prestidigitation was when he pulled the live dove out of that tiny scarf."
Etymology
From French prestidigitation, from French preste (“nimble, quick”) + Latin digitus (“finger”) + French -ation (process suffix). The word has a different origin from prestige, even though this in the past has meant “delusion, illusion, trick”.
Related phrases
More for "prestidigitation"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.