What does necromantic mean?
Necromantic is an adjective meaning related to necromancy, the occult practice of consulting or communing with the dead. It is especially common in fantasy, horror, and religious or esoteric writing, where it can describe a ritual, spell, artifact, or other means of influencing the dead. The word often carries a deliberately sinister atmosphere: it suggests contact with forbidden knowledge and power beyond the ordinary world. It should not be confused with “necromancy,” which is the noun naming the practice itself, or “necromancer,” which names a practitioner. Although the vocabulary comes from older European occult traditions, modern usage is largely literary and recreational rather than a technical term for a single ritual. Knowing “necromantic” helps readers recognize language that treats the dead as sources of knowledge or power, while also distinguishing the adjective from the related nouns.
adjectiveRelating to necromancy: the occult practice of divination through, or communication with, the spirits of the dead. In modern fantasy and occult usage, it may specifically describe magic intended to raise, control, or conjure the dead.
- Relating to necromancy or to magic involving communication with, control of, or conjuring of the dead.
"The archivist studied the necromantic rituals carved into the chapel's oldest stones."
"The necromantic charm allowed its bearer to hear the whispers of the deceased."
"Her research into necromantic traditions led her to abandoned churches and forbidden texts."
The occult term for magic conducted through the dead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of necromantic
Necromantic was formed in English in the early 17th century from necromancy and the adjective-forming suffix -ic. Necromancy comes through Latin from Greek nekromanteia, a term associated with divination or prophecy by the dead and built from nekros, meaning “dead,” and manteia, meaning “divination.” The related English noun necromancer denotes a practitioner of this art.
Related word forms
How necromantic is actually used
Less common in ordinary speech, this word is chiefly used in occult, fantasy, horror, and literary contexts. It frequently appears attributively before words such as ritual, spell, artifact, and magic.
Easily confused with necromantic
Necromantic is the adjective describing the practice, while necromancy is the noun naming it.
A necromancer is a practitioner of necromancy; necromantic describes the practice, objects, or arts associated with it.