mystic
gb/mˈɪstɪk/ us/mˈɪstɪk/
C1
English
~ 6800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
entity
1
person seeking direct spiritual truth
A person who tries to know or feel God or a higher truth in a direct, very personal way, usually through deep prayer or meditation.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a mystic
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "mystic" (a person) with "mystical" (an adjective). Use "a mystic" for a person, and "a mystical experience" or "mystical ideas" for descriptions.
Synonyms
spiritual seeker (Broader and more informal; can include people exploring spirituality in general, not only traditional mysticism.)
Antonyms
materialist (Focuses only on the physical world and denies or ignores spiritual or mystical reality, which opposes a mystic’s focus.)
Collocations
Christian mystic
|Sufi mystic
|medieval mystic
|Hindu mystic
|Jewish mystic
|self-styled mystic
Themes
religion
|spirituality
|philosophy
Examples
- The poet was deeply influenced by the writings of a fourteenth-century Christian mystic.
- In the documentary, a modern mystic describes his visions of the divine.
- Many Sufi mystics use music and dance as a path to spiritual ecstasy.
- She is sometimes dismissed as a New Age mystic, but her ideas have a serious philosophical background.
- The village revered him as a holy mystic who could heal the sick.
Learner examples
- The old man in the mountains is a mystic.
- The mystic spends many hours each day in quiet prayer.
- People came from far away to ask the mystic for advice.
- The writer read books by a famous Indian mystic.
- Some people think a mystic can see a hidden truth.
adjective
C1
property
2
relating to mysticism or spirituality
About special spiritual experiences or ideas that try to know God or a higher truth in a deep, secret way.
Usage pattern:
a mystic [experience/belief/tradition]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "mystic" when they really mean "mysterious" (for example, saying *a mystic problem* instead of *a mysterious problem*). Use "mystic" or "mystical" mainly for spiritual or religious ideas, not everyday secrets or puzzles.
Synonyms
mystical (Very close in meaning and more common as an adjective in modern English; often interchangeable, though "mystic" can sound slightly more old-fashioned or intense.)
Antonyms
rational (Focuses on logic and reason rather than inner, spiritual experience, which contrasts with mystic approaches.)
Collocations
mystic experience
|mystic vision
|mystic tradition
|mystic belief
|mystic practice
|mystic union
Themes
religion
|spirituality
|philosophy
Examples
- The book explores the mystic traditions of several world religions.
- She described a mystic experience in which she felt completely united with all things.
- They traveled to the monastery in search of mystic teachings.
- His poetry is filled with mystic images of light and union with the divine.
- The course looks at both philosophical and mystic approaches to understanding reality.
Learner examples
- The monk told us about his mystic dreams.
- Some people look for mystic ways to find peace.
- He studies mystic ideas from many religions.
- She writes about mystic love between the soul and God.
- They were interested in mystic teachings from the East.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
having a mysterious, otherworldly quality
Seeming strange, quiet, and unreal in a way that feels spiritual or full of secret power.
Usage pattern:
a mystic [place/atmosphere/light]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "mystic" when "mysterious" is enough. Use "mystic" when the feeling is both mysterious and spiritual or magical, often in stories, poems, or descriptions of nature.
Synonyms
otherworldly (Stresses a feeling that something does not belong to normal everyday life; "mystic" adds a hint of spiritual or magical meaning.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Describes something normal and everyday, lacking the strange or spiritual feeling suggested by "mystic".)
Collocations
mystic aura
|mystic atmosphere
|mystic light
|mystic landscape
|mystic silence
Themes
literature
|emotions
|spirituality
|arts_entertainment
|religion
Examples
- The lake had a mystic beauty at dawn, wrapped in silver mist.
- Soft candles gave the old temple a mystic glow.
- There was a mystic silence in the forest after the snow began to fall.
- The film creates a mystic atmosphere with slow music and dim lighting.
- From the hilltop they watched the city through a mystic haze of evening light.
Learner examples
- The mountain had a mystic look in the moonlight.
- There was a mystic feeling in the quiet garden.
- The soft blue light made the room seem mystic.
- They walked through a mystic forest in the story.
- Music and smoke gave the stage a mystic mood.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mystic
IPA
GB/mˈɪstɪk/
US/mˈɪstɪk/
Syllables & stress
mys - tic (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mys)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: mystic
Noun
- Base: mystic
- Plural: mystics
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.