Phrase guide

magic word

noun · 4 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: /ˌmædʒɪk ˈwɜːd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˌmædʒɪk ˈwɝd/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any word that has a magical effect when uttered.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

One of the words please, thank you, or hello.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • If you learn to use magic words when you are little, it would be easy in your adulthood.
  • What's the magic word?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Any word that is considered very significant in a certain situation or context.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

Examples

  • When someone offers you drugs, the magic word is no.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A string of text having some special function or purpose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • One of the magic words used in the MediaWiki software is __NOTOC__, which hides the table of contents that would normally be on the page.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

49 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 咒語 /咒语 (zhòuyǔ) — word with magical effect
  • Chinese Mandarin: 咒文 (zhòuwén) — word with magical effect
  • Czech: kouzelná formule — word with magical effect
  • Danish: trylleformel — word with magical effect
  • Danish: hekseformular — word with magical effect
  • Danish: trylleord — word with magical effect
  • Dutch: toverwoord — word with magical effect
  • Esperanto: magia formulo — word with magical effect
  • Estonian: võlusõna — word with magical effect
  • Finnish: taikasana — word with magical effect
  • French: formule magique — word with magical effect
  • French: incantation — word with magical effect
  • Georgian: ჯადოსნური სიტყვა (ǯadosnuri siṭq̇va) — word with magical effect
  • German: Zauberspruch — word with magical effect
  • German: Zauberwort — word with magical effect
  • German: Zauberformel — word with magical effect
  • Greek: μαγική λέξη (magikí léxi) — word with magical effect
  • Greek: μαγική φόρμουλα (magikí fórmoula) — word with magical effect
  • Hungarian: varázsige — word with magical effect
  • Hungarian: varázsszó — word with magical effect
  • Italian: formula magica — word with magical effect
  • Japanese: 呪文 (jumon) — word with magical effect
  • Japanese: おまじない (omajinai) — word with magical effect
  • Korean: 마법의 말 (mabeob-ui mal) — word with magical effect
  • Korean: 마법의 단어 (mabeob-ui daneo) — word with magical effect
  • Norwegian Bokmål: trollformel — word with magical effect
  • Norwegian Bokmål: hekseformular — word with magical effect
  • Old English: ġealdorword — word with magical effect
  • Iranian Persian: وِرْد (verd) — word with magical effect
  • Polish: magiczne słowo — word with magical effect
  • Portuguese: palavra mágica — word with magical effect
  • Portuguese: fórmula mágica — word with magical effect
  • Russian: волше́бное сло́во (volšébnoje slóvo) — word with magical effect
  • Russian: заклина́ние (zaklinánije) — word with magical effect
  • Spanish: palabra mágica — word with magical effect
  • Spanish: fórmula mágica — word with magical effect
  • Swedish: magiskt ord — word with magical effect
  • Swedish: trollformel — word with magical effect
  • Chinese Cantonese: 禮貌用語 /礼貌用语 (lai5 maau6 jung6 jyu5) — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Czech: kouzelné slovíčko — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • French: mot magique — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • German: Zauberwort — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Italian: parola magica — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Italian: parolina magica — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Polish: magiczne słowo — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Portuguese: palavra mágica — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Portuguese: palavrinha mágica — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Russian: волше́бное сло́во (volšébnoje slóvo) — one of the words please, thank you, or hello
  • Spanish: palabra mágica — one of the words please, thank you, or hello