Standard Lemma guide

exorcise

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈɛk.sɔː.saɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/
  • US: /ˈɛk.sɚˌsaɪz/
  • homophone: exercise (one pronunciation)

1

verb

Meaning 1

To drive out (an evil spirit) from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The priest attempted to exorcise the evil spirit from the house.
  • The ritual was performed to exorcise the demons from the village.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To rid (a person, place or thing) of an evil spirit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • They hired a specialist to exorcise the haunted object.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

expel through adjuration or prayers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • exorcise evil spirits

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: exorcize

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: eject, chuck out, exclude, turf out, boot out, turn out

History

Etymology

From Middle English exorcisen, exorzisen, from Medieval Latin exorcizō, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω (exorkízō, “to banish an evil spirit; bind by oath”), from ἐξ (ex) + ὅρκος (hórkos). Compare Old French exorciser.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: exorcitzar — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Dutch: verdrijven — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Dutch: uitbannen — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Esperanto: ekzorci — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Finnish: manata — to drive out an evil spirit
  • French: exorciser — to drive out an evil spirit
  • German: exorzieren — to drive out an evil spirit
  • German: austreiben — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Greek: εξορκίζω (exorkízo) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Ancient Greek: ἐξορκίζω (exorkízō) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Ido: exorcisar — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Italian: esorcizzare — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Latin: adiuro — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Luxembourgish: exorzéieren — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Māori: peiwairua — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Norman: d'senchorchéler — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Portuguese: exorcizar — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Romanian: exorciza — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Russian: изгонять (izgonjatʹ) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Spanish: exorcizar — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Tamil: பேயோட்டு (pēyōṭṭu) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Ukrainian: виганя́ти (vyhanjáty) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Ukrainian: ви́гнати (výhnaty) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Yiddish: באַשווערן (bashvern) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Yiddish: משביע זײַן (mashbiye zayn) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Yiddish: אַרויסטרײַבן (aroystraybn) — to drive out an evil spirit
  • Finnish: manata — to rid of an evil spirit
  • Spanish: exorcizar — to rid of an evil spirit