Dictionary

woo woo en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈwuːˌwuː/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Uncertain. It has been suggested that "woo woo" is intended to imitate the eerie background music of sci-fi/horror films and television shows. A connection has also been suggested to stereotypical sounds of ghosts (see boo and compare goetia).

Meanings

1. (derogatory, slang) Supernatural, pseudoscientific.
   • He made a living out of woo woo beliefs.
   • One person's wonderful supplement is another person's quackery. There are continual skirmishes—if not outright war—between some of the more woo-woo elements of the wellness industry and science and fact-based solutions. 2020 April 3, Brigid Delaney, “Elle Macpherson Is Our May Cover Star”, in Harper's Bazaar, archived from the original on 13 Apr 2020:
2. (derogatory, slang) Readily accepting supernatural, paranormal, occult, or pseudoscientific phenomena, or emotion-based beliefs and explanations.
   • Open-minded and vaguely woo-woo herself, she, too, left Jeffrey's chamber of Yoni floating. 2016, Melissa Broder, So Sad Today:
   • Paltrow’s family wasn’t especially woo-woo. 2020 April 8, Marisa Meltzer, “Gwyneth Paltrow Has the Last Laugh”, in Town & Country:
   • Pert is a talented scientist who went woo woo many years ago for reasons I don’t have time to go into here. 2005 April 18, “What the (Bleep) Were They Thinking?”, in Skeptico, archived from the original on 18 May 2020:

Forms

Deriveds

woo-wooness

woo woo en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈwuːˌwuː/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Uncertain. It has been suggested that "woo woo" is intended to imitate the eerie background music of sci-fi/horror films and television shows. A connection has also been suggested to stereotypical sounds of ghosts (see boo and compare goetia).

Meanings

1. (countable, derogatory, slang) A person readily accepting supernatural, paranormal, occult, or pseudoscientific phenomena, or emotion-based beliefs and explanations.
   • That reporter is a bit of a woo woo.
2. (derogatory, slang, uncountable) Supernatural, paranormal, occult, esoteric, or pseudoscientific phenomena, or emotion-based beliefs and explanations.
   • Near-synonyms: supernatural, paranormal, occult, esotericism, pseudoscience, quackery
   • […] there would still be realists who did not buy the woo-woo. 2017 May 16, Kevin R, “When your food is a sin against God”, in alt.atheism (Usenet), message-ID <500f03b2-b72d-44cc-aff3-c45aec3d3da8@googlegroups.com>:
   • He is really into all that woo woo.

Forms

Coordinates

bullshit · hogwash · horseshit

Synonyms

pseudoscience · quackery · occult · paranormal · supernatural · esotericism

woo woo en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈwuːˌwuː/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Unknown.

Meanings

1. An alcoholic cocktail consisting of peach schnapps, vodka and cranberry juice.
   • Only top-shelf liquor is served, though Sasha refuses to serve drinks he deems fratlike. These include woo woos, kamikazes and shots of any kind. 2000 May 7, Julia Chaplin, “Buzz Off: Secret Bars That Spurn Hype”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 May 2025:

Forms

woo woo en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /ˈwuːˌwuː/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Imitative of a siren.

Meanings

1. (childish) The sound of a siren.

Forms