/sahn'teuh ree"euh/ , n.
( sometimes l.c. ) a religion merging the worship of Yoruba deities with veneration of Roman Catholic saints: practiced in Cuba and spread to other parts of the Caribbean and to the U.S. by Cuban emigrés.
Also, Santeria .
[ 1980-85; santer ( o ) person practicing Santería (Sp sant ( o ) SAINT + -ero -arius -ARY) + -ía -IA ]