Word
talisman
Phoneticstal·is·man, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtæɫɪsmən/
UK/tˈælɪsmən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. an object, like a ring or stone, that you believe brings good luck or protects you from bad things.
n. an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune. Often used in literary contexts to describe a source of protection or power.
Examples
“He kept a small stone in his pocket as a talisman.”
“The captain was seen as a talisman for the team, as they never lost a game when he played.”
“In many ancient cultures, an inscribed ring served as a powerful talisman intended to ward off evil spirits and ensure the wearer's safe return from battle.”
Examples
simple
“He kept a small stone in his pocket as a talisman.”
contextual
“The captain was seen as a talisman for the team, as they never lost a game when he played.”
complex
“In many ancient cultures, an inscribed ring served as a powerful talisman intended to ward off evil spirits and ensure the wearer's safe return from battle.”
Teaching tip
While similar to 'amulet', a talisman is often thought to provide specific powers or luck, whereas an amulet is primarily for protection.
Real-World Examples
“In Egypt, a meteoritic iron talisman provided lasting protection for a herd of camels against bad luck."
However, it was unclear whether Bronze Age Greeks used meteoritic iron.” “A talisman - each team's key player and one to own, if you can afford the price.” Etymology
From French talisman, partly from Arabic طِلَّسْم (ṭillasm, “payment”), from Ancient Greek τέλεσμα (télesma, “payment”); and partly directly from Byzantine Greek τέλεσμα (télesma, “talisman, religious rite, completion”), from τελέω (teléō, “to perform religious rites, to complete”), from τέλος (télos, “end, fulfillment, accomplishment, consummation, completion”). Doublet of telesm.
Uncertain. Perhaps a corruption of some Arabic word.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
- Register
- Literary
QR code
englishreference.com/q/talisman