# superstition

/ˌsupɝˈstɪʃən/ (US) · /sˈuːpəstˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/superstition
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. irrational belief in luck

noun · CEFR B2

a belief that specific things or events bring good or bad luck, like thinking a black cat is a bad sign.

For teachers: a belief or practice based on supernatural causality, often considered irrational or unfounded by others.

- It is a common superstition that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck.
- Despite his scientific background, he harboured a private superstition that wearing his old college tie would ensure a successful negotiation.

### 2. excessive scrupulousness

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

being too careful about small details or rules in a way that seems unnecessary.

For teachers: an archaic sense referring to excessive nicety or overscrupulousness in conduct or thought.

- The old clerk followed the rules with a kind of nervous superstition.
- The author’s superstition regarding punctuation made the editing process incredibly slow for the publishing house.

## Examples

- The belief that breaking a mirror brings bad luck is a common superstition.
- Despite being a scientist, he still follows the superstition of never walking under a ladder.
- Anthropologists argue that every culture develops its own set of superstitions to provide a sense of control over unpredictable natural phenomena.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.