Voodoo (noun)

1. A religious system, practiced in parts of Haiti, Louisiana, and other places, that combines elements of Roman Catholicism with traditional African beliefs and practices, including the use of charms and spells.
2. A religion that is based on the worship of spirits and ancestors and the use of magic and charms.

Origin:

From african fon vodun, from vodu spirit, deity, from vod-, to be present.

Examples:

1. He was a practitioner of voodoo and was feared by the community.
2. The voodoo ceremony was a combination of African and Christian elements.
3. The voodoo doll was used to cast a spell on the victim.
4. The voodoo priest performed a ritual to ward off evil spirits.
5. The voodoo religion has many followers in Haiti and in the African diaspora.