also: あくれい
noun
evil spirit; malevolent ghost
Refers to a harmful supernatural entity, often in religious, folkloric, or horror contexts.
その古い屋敷には悪霊が住みついていると言われている。
It is said that an evil spirit dwells in that old mansion.
悪霊を追い払うために
We had a purification ritual performed to drive away the evil spirit.
Compound of 悪 (evil) and 霊 (spirit). The reading あくりょう is the standard Sino-Japanese on'yomi; あくれい is a less common variant.