noun
demon
DEE-muhn
noun
1
An evil supernatural being, often associated with hell or wickedness.
"In the film, a priest tries to cast the demon out of the old house."
"Folklore across many cultures describes demons tempting people into wrongdoing."
2
A destructive habit, feeling, or personal struggle, especially one someone battles internally.
"He finally confronted the demons of his addiction."
"Years later, she was still fighting the demons from that difficult childhood."
3
Someone with remarkable skill, energy, or intensity at an activity.
"He's an absolute demon on the tennis court."
"She's a demon for detail when editing manuscripts."
How to Use Demon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA frightening evil spirit — or, more loosely, an inner struggle or someone who's fiercely good at something.
Common mistake
The word originally meant a neutral or even helpful spirit in ancient Greek thought; the "evil being" sense developed later through religious use.
Common pairings
inner demons
fight your demons
speed demon
Word Forms
demons plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “demon”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the film, a priest tries to cast the _____ out of the old house.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin dēmōn, borrowed from Ancient Greek daímōn, originally meaning a protective or guiding spirit rather than something evil.