What does mediumship mean?
Mediumship is the practice or occupation of acting as a medium, usually understood as a person who claims to communicate with the dead or serve as a channel for spirits and other nonphysical entities. The word is especially associated with spiritualism, séances, and nineteenth- and twentieth-century movements that investigated alleged communication beyond ordinary sensory experience. It can describe both a profession and the claimed ability involved in that profession, making it more specific than the broader term psychic. In modern usage, mediumship is often discussed in religious, historical, cultural, or skeptical contexts rather than as an established scientific phenomenon. The term’s development from medium, meaning a means or channel of communication, reflects the central idea of a medium as an intermediary. It is most often encountered in phrases referring to spiritualist practice, claimed spirit communication, or someone’s work as a medium.
nounMediumship is the occupation or practice of acting as a medium, especially by claiming to communicate with or receive messages from the dead. It can also refer more generally to the claimed ability to act as a conduit for spirits or other nonphysical entities.
- The occupation or practice of acting as a medium, especially in alleged communication with the dead.
- The claimed ability to serve as a conduit for spirits or other nonphysical entities.
"The documentary explored the history of mediumship and the experiences of people who claimed to communicate with the deceased."
"She became famous for her work in mediumship and for conducting public séances."
"The novel treats mediumship as both a profession and a source of ambiguity between the living and the dead."
The plural is used when referring to different instances of the practice or to different people who practice it.
"The exhibition explored several famous mediumships from the late nineteenth century."
Mediumship turns the word medium from a means of communication into a profession: the practice of claiming to be a channel between the living and the dead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mediumship come from?
Mediumship was formed in English by adding the suffix -ship to medium, a word derived from Latin through French. The suffix -ship forms nouns indicating an occupation, condition, or characteristic, so mediumship literally refers to the state or practice of being a medium. The term became closely associated with spiritualism and with people claiming to communicate with the dead.
How mediumship is actually used
The term is most closely associated with spiritualism and nineteenth- and twentieth-century religious movements, but it is also used more broadly in discussions of alleged supernatural communication. In a general context, it may be treated skeptically or refer neutrally to a claimed ability.
Easily confused with mediumship
A medium is a person or thing that serves as a means of communication or expression, while mediumship is the practice or occupation of acting as such a person, especially in alleged communication with spirits.