Home North American English woo-woo

Definition of woo-woo in US English:

woo-woo

(also woo)

adjective

derogatory, informal

  • Relating to or holding unconventional beliefs regarded as having little or no scientific basis, especially those relating to spirituality, mysticism, or alternative medicine.

    ‘quartz crystals that were so popular with the woo-woo crowd’
    ‘phrases like that will prove a little woo-woo for some readers’

noun

derogatory, informal

  • Unconventional beliefs regarded as having little or no scientific basis, especially those relating to spirituality, mysticism, or alternative medicine.

    ‘some kind of metaphysical woo-woo’

Origin

1980s: probably in imitation of a wailing sound traditionally attributed to ghosts and humorously associated with mysticism and the supernatural.

Pronunciation

woo-woo

/ˈwuˌwu//ˈwo͞oˌwo͞o/