demonology

"Demonology" is a fascinating and somewhat eerie word with essentially one core meaning, though it appears in a couple of different contexts. It refers to the study of demons or evil spirits — think of it as a field of knowledge, like how "biology" is the study of life.

1nounstudy of demons

Demonology is the study of demons, evil spirits, and supernatural beings believed to cause harm. Just like 'geology' is the study of the Earth, the '-logy' ending tells you this is a field of study. People who practice demonology try to understand, classify, and sometimes counter these evil forces. It has been taken seriously in many religious and historical traditions.

religion, occult, history · Used across many centuries; still used today in religious, historical, and horror contexts

The medieval priest wrote an entire book on demonology, listing the names and powers of different evil spirits.

She became fascinated by demonology after studying the witch trials of the 17th century.

Demonology was considered a serious branch of theology in many parts of Europe during the Middle Ages.

2nounbelief system about demons

Demonology can also refer to a specific set of beliefs or a system that a culture or religion has about demons — who they are, what they do, and how they are ranked. Think of it like a 'map' of the demon world as imagined by a particular group of people.

religion, anthropology, folklore · Modern and historical; common in academic and cultural discussions

Christian demonology and Jewish demonology share some figures but differ in many details.

The film drew heavily on ancient Mesopotamian demonology to create its villain.

Each culture has its own demonology, shaped by its history and religious traditions.

3nounfigurativefigurative: study of evil or wicked people

Sometimes, people use 'demonology' in a playful or critical way to talk about a collection of people or things considered very bad or harmful — as if they were cataloguing 'demons' in human form. This is not a literal use; it is more of a metaphor.

journalism, literary criticism · Modern; used in formal writing and commentary · figurative

The journalist's book reads like a demonology of corrupt politicians.

Critics described the documentary as a demonology of the financial industry's worst actors.