1. a psychoactive substance, typically a plant or fungus, used in religious or spiritual rituals to produce altered states of consciousness believed to facilitate communion with the divine
Usage: academic and anthropological term; often used in religious studies and ethnobotany

Examples

• Psilocybin mushrooms have been used as entheogens in indigenous ceremonies for centuries.
• The anthropologist studied how various cultures incorporated entheogens into their spiritual practices.
• Some scholars argue that certain plants were considered entheogens in ancient Greek mystery religions.
• The term entheogen emphasizes the spiritual purpose rather than the recreational use of such substances.
• Researchers examine the role of entheogens in shamanic traditions across different continents.