# superstitious

/ˌsupɝˈstɪʃəs/ (US) · /sˌuːpəstˈɪʃəs/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. believing in luck or magic

adjective · CEFR B2

believing that certain objects or actions can bring good or bad luck, even if there is no scientific reason for it.

For teachers: describing a person who maintains irrational beliefs in supernatural causality or omens.

- He is very superstitious and will never walk under a ladder.
- Even in a modern society, many people remain superstitious, carrying lucky charms to ward off perceived misfortune during important events.

### 2. based on superstition

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a habit or belief that comes from a fear of bad luck or magic.

For teachers: arising from or characterized by superstition rather than logic or empirical evidence.

- The sailor had a superstitious fear of starting a journey on a Friday.
- The villagers maintained a superstitious ritual of leaving food by the forest edge to appease spirits they believed controlled the harvest.

### 3. overly precise

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic

being too careful or worried about small details.

For teachers: excessively scrupulous or overexact regarding details or rules.

- The old clerk was superstitious about the exact placement of his pens.
- His superstitious adherence to the ancient protocols of the court made him appear rigid to the younger diplomats.

## Examples

- He is very superstitious and never walks under ladders.
- Many professional athletes are famously superstitious, often wearing the same pair of socks for every game to ensure a win.
- The sailors remained deeply superstitious, interpreting the sudden appearance of the albatross as a divine omen that would determine the success of their long voyage across the Atlantic.

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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.