Simon Magus

noun

Si·​mon Ma·​gus ˌsī-mən-ˈmā-gəs How to pronounce Simon Magus (audio)
: a Samaritan sorcerer converted by the apostle Philip and severely rebuked by Peter for offering money for the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Examples of Simon Magus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The German Lutheran reformer Philip Melanchthon told of a Faust who tried to do a Simon Magus over the rooftops of Venice, crashing to his death in a canal. James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Simon Magus was circa 1548

Dictionary Entries Near Simon Magus

Cite this Entry

“Simon Magus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Simon%20Magus. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Simon Magus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!