To save this word, you'll need to log in.
obe·ah | \ ˈō-bē-ə 
\
\variants:
or less commonly obi \ ˈō-bē \
\Definition of obeah
: a system of belief among blacks chiefly of the British West Indies and the Guianas that is characterized by the use of magic ritual to ward off misfortune or to cause harm
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on obeah
What made you want to look up obeah? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Difficult Spelling Words Quiz
- Which is the correct spelling?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Difficult Spelling Words Quiz
Can you spell these 15 tricky spelling words?
Take the quiz - Return of Name that Color!
Additional colors! More obscure than before!
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Add Diction
Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.
Play the game
Share obeah
Time Traveler for obeah
The first known use of obeah was circa 1711
See more words from the same year