An amulet is a small object that people wear or carry because they believe it will protect them from harm or bring them good luck. Throughout history, people have worn amulets as necklaces or bracelets, or kept them in pockets: a rabbit's foot, a four-leaf clover, a small pouch of herbs, or a stone with special markings.

Ancient Egyptians wore amulets shaped like scarab beetles or the Eye of Horus. Medieval knights carried amulets they believed would keep them safe in battle. In many cultures, people give children amulets to wear for protection. A baseball player might keep a lucky coin in his pocket as an amulet before every game.

The key thing about an amulet is that its power comes from belief. There's no scientific evidence that amulets actually work, but the confidence they give people can be real. If wearing your grandmother's locket makes you feel braver before a big presentation, that psychological boost is genuine, even if the locket itself has no magical properties.

Today, people might call a lucky charm an amulet, or they might just appreciate it as a meaningful keepsake that connects them to someone they love or to a memory that matters to them.