exorcism
C1Formal (especially literal); can be informal/figurative.
Definition
Meaning
The act or ceremony of expelling an evil spirit from a person or place.
A process or procedure for eliminating something deeply troubling or unwanted, often in a metaphorical sense.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun describing a ritual; can be used metaphorically for purging negative influences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally associated with religious/occult ritual in both dialects. Metaphorical use (e.g., 'exorcise a demon' from politics) is common in both.
Frequency
Similar frequency, perhaps slightly more common in US media due to prevalence of horror genre.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] performed an exorcism on [Object][Object] required an exorcismthe exorcism of [Evil/Possession]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “exorcise the ghosts of the past”
- “perform an exorcism on the budget (figurative)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Used metaphorically: 'The new CEO led an exorcism of the corrupt practices.'
Academic
Used in religious studies, anthropology, psychology, and film studies contexts.
Everyday
Mostly in discussions of horror films or metaphorical use for getting rid of bad memories.
Technical
Specific liturgical term in theology; a clinical term in some cultural psychiatry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They needed to exorcise the haunted house before the new tenants moved in.
- The ritual was meant to exorcise the malevolent spirit.
American English
- He wrote the book to exorcise his personal demons.
- The team hoped a big win would exorcise the ghosts of last season's loss.
adverb
British English
- The spirit was exorcised successfully.
- The house was exorcised thoroughly.
American English
- The demon was allegedly exorcised permanently.
- The memory was exorcised completely from his mind.
adjective
British English
- The exorcism rite was lengthy and complex.
- They sought an exorcism ceremony.
American English
- The exorcism ritual was performed by a priest.
- He studied exorcism practices across cultures.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The film was about an exorcism.
- They are afraid of exorcism.
- The priest was called to perform an exorcism.
- In the story, the exorcism saved the child.
- The controversial exorcism was conducted without proper authorisation from the diocese.
- Metaphorically, the election was seen as an exorcism of the old political guard.
- Anthropologists debate whether the phenomenon labelled as possession necessitates a ritual exorcism or a psychotherapeutic intervention.
- The director used the film as a means to exorcise the national trauma of that historical period.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EXit + FORCE + ism. You use force to make an evil spirit EXit.
Conceptual Metaphor
EVIL IS A FOREIGN OCCUPIER (expelled from a host). PURIFICATION IS A PHYSICAL CLEANSING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'exercise' (упражнение). The Russian 'экзорцизм' is a direct loanword but is highly specialised.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'exorcistism' (the noun is 'exorcism'; 'exorcist' is the person). Incorrect spelling: 'exersism' (confusion with 'exercise').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common, literal meaning of 'exorcism'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. It originates in religious ritual, but its metaphorical use to mean 'purging something bad' is widely accepted in secular contexts.
'Exorcism' is the ritual or act itself. An 'exorcist' is the person (e.g., a priest) who performs the exorcism.
Yes, figuratively. E.g., 'Writing the letter was an exorcism of his guilt,' implies a positive, cathartic release.
Both are correct. 'Exorcise' is standard in British English and common in American English. 'Exorcize' is a less common American variant.
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