wizard

American  

[wiz-erd] / ˈwɪz ərd /

noun

1. a person who practices magic; magician or sorcerer.

   Synonyms:

   diviner, thaumaturge, necromancer, enchanter

2. a conjurer or juggler.

3. Also whiz, wiz a person of amazing skill or accomplishment.

   a wizard at chemistry.

4. Computers. a software feature that guides users through complex procedures with step-by-step instructions, often presented in dialog boxes.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a wizard.

2. magic.

3. British Slang. superb; excellent; wonderful.

   That's wizard!

wizard British  

/ ˈwɪzəd /

noun

1. a male witch or a man who practises or professes to practise magic or sorcery

2. a person who is outstandingly clever in some specified field; expert

3. obsolete a wise man

4. computing a computer program that guides a user through a complex task

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adjective

1. informal superb; outstanding

2. of or relating to a wizard or wizardry

Other Word Forms

• wizardlike
  adjective
• wizardly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of wizard

First recorded in 1400–50, late Middle English wisard; see wise ¹, -ard

Explanation

A wizard is a kind of magician. A wise man who can perform magic spells in a fairy tale or fantasy novel is often described as a wizard. One of the most famous fictional wizards is Harry Potter, who first learns of his magical abilities when Hagrid says, "Harry — yer a wizard." Sometimes wizards are described as male versions of witches, while other stories use the term as a gender-neutral name for anyone with magical powers. Colloquially, you might call someone a wizard if they're truly amazing at what they do (even if it's not magic): "She's a wizard at dog training!"

Example Sentences

That deal gave his company access to classic titles like “Citizen Kane” and “The Wizard of Oz” that could be shown on cable, but also left it with $2 billion in debt.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

For “The Wizard of Oz,” Dolan decided he wanted to turn the 1939 classic film into an immersive experience.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Meanwhile, several artists - including Massive Attack, Deerhoof and King Lizard and the Gizzard Wizard - have cut ties with Spotify in protest at the company's ties to the defence company Helsing.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

“Sometimes I felt like Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ meeting many different people on my way to Oz.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Nearby, a copy of A Wizard of Earthsea rests cracked in half.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Related Words

• genius
• shark
• whiz