mojo en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈməʊd͡ʒəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈmoʊd͡ʒoʊ/ (General-American)
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
Probably of Creole origin, cognate with Gullah moco (“witchcraft”), Fula moco'o (“medicine man”). The origin of the drug sense is uncertain, possibly related to Spanish mojar (“to toast (celebrate with a drink)”).
Meanings
- (countable) A magic spell or hex.
-
(countable) An object (such as a charm or amulet) used to cast magic spells, especially in hoodoo.
A doney, for instance, is a woman of worse than doubtful morals, and a nation sack is a cloth pouch worn on a string around the neck for holding mojos and small change.
1991 July/August, Shelby Foote, “When Robert Johnson Sings”, in American Heritage, volume 42, number 4:
- (uncountable) Spellcraft, hoodoo.
-
(countable, informal, uncountable) Supernatural skill; exceptional luck, success, or power.
I haven’t seen much mojo in the state Legislature for that or any other major intervention, though. Hey, lawmakers, you should check out the test scores for your own school districts. It might be yours are needing some help, too, maybe even more so than Seattle.
2022 February 12, Danny Westneat, “The reason voters see past the terrible headlines with Seattle schools”, in The Seattle Times:
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(countable, slang, uncountable) Personal magnetism; charm; that which makes one successful and liked, viewed as an inherent power that can be present or absent.
Still reeling from the 2023 Voice loss, Albanese struggled until the start of this year to regain his mojo. Polls relentlessly showed the prime minister was on the nose with voters weary over the cost of living.
2025 May 8, Jacob Greber, “How Peter Dutton’s Wile E Coyote campaign flew off the cliff”, in ABC News:
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(countable, slang, uncountable) Sex appeal; sex drive.
Look at the way the chicks are checking out Daniel on the dancefloor. He's still got plenty of mojo.
- (countable, slang, uncountable) An illegal drug, especially morphine or other narcotics.
- (countable, slang, uncountable, usually, with "wire") A telecopier; a fax machine.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mojoes | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| mojos | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
sortilege · wandwork · recreational drug · bewitchery · telesm · witchdom · rune · diablerie · fetish · horse · mojo · charm · witchery · magic spell · spell · hex · spellcraft · spellword · charmwork · lucky charm · spellcasting · talisman · dwimmercraft · incantation · craft · witchwork · charm · substance · mojo · talisman · craft · dope · warlockry · madstone · wizardcraft · mascot · fetish · dwimmer · dwimmer · enchantment · makutu · conjuring · spell · cantrip · juju · wonderworking · gypsycraft · witchcraft · magic · juju · magic · enchantment · craft · token · black arts · hexcraft · jugglery · amulet · goety · periapt · whistness · phylactery · conjuration · witchcraft · spellwork · wanga · hexerei · sorcery · wanga · gear · chantment · obeah · dweomercraft · mojo · dark arts · druidcraft · stuff · pishogue · incantation · wizardry · enchantment · conjuration · thaumaturgy · black art · wizardry · drug · protection
Translations (36)
gl feitizo (magic charm or spell) · es chispa (supernatural skill or luck) · hu narkó (illegal drugs) · pt mágica (magic charm or spell) · hu vonzerő (sex appeal; sex drive) · hu vonzerő (personal magnetism; charm) · hu csáberő (sex appeal; sex drive) · hu faxgép (fax machine) · gl maxia (personal magnetism; charm) · fi seksuaalinen vetovoima (sex appeal; sex drive) · de Zauber (magic charm or spell) · hu szexepil (sex appeal; sex drive) · hu fax (fax machine) · es confianza (supernatural skill or luck) · gl encanto (personal magnetism; charm) · hu varázsige (magic charm or spell) · hu fű (illegal drugs) · de Charme (personal magnetism; charm) · es magia (supernatural skill or luck) · gl feitizo (personal magnetism; charm) · hu anyag (illegal drugs) · hu varázslat (magic charm or spell) · hu bűverő (supernatural skill or luck) · es magia (magic charm or spell) · hu varázserő (supernatural skill or luck) · hu kábítószer (illegal drugs) · es impulso (supernatural skill or luck) · de Magie (magic charm or spell) · hu amulett (magic charm or spell) · pt magia (magic charm or spell) · gl encantamento (magic charm or spell) · gl encanto (magic charm or spell) · es ilación (supernatural skill or luck) · es encanto (magic charm or spell) · es ímpetu (supernatural skill or luck) · hu mágia (magic charm or spell)