Magi

American  

[mey-jahy, maj-ahy] / ˈmeɪ dʒaɪ, ˈmædʒ aɪ /

Or magi

plural noun

singular

Magus

1. null the Magi, in the Bible, the astrologers who paid homage to the young child Jesus, traditionally assumed to be three in number and to be named Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior.

2. the class of Zoroastrian priests in ancient Media and Persia, reputed to possess supernatural powers.

3. magi, people who are believed to have expertise in interpreting the assumed influence of the stars, moon, and planets on human affairs; astrologers.

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magi British  

/ ˈmeɪdʒaɪ, ˈmeɪdʒɪən /

plural noun

1. the Zoroastrian priests of the ancient Medes and Persians

2. the wise men from the East who came to do homage to the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:1–12) and traditionally called Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar

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Magi Cultural  

1. The sages who visited Jesus soon after his birth. (See Wise Men.)

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Other Word Forms

• Magian adjective
• magian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Magi

First recorded in 1175–1225; Magus

Example Sentences

These are the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi; Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives, the Crucifixion and the Lamentation; and, finally, the Resurrection, Ascension and Pentecost.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Nobody can tell you whether any of them knew a Magi from a Musketeer, not to mention that the Roman Empire they worked under was a failed administration.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2025

In some traditions, it celebrates the baptism of Jesus and in others the visit of the Three Magi to the Baby Jesus.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2024

Through an internal project code-named Magi, Google has looked to infuse its namesake engine with generative artificial intelligence, technology that can answer questions with human-like prose and derive new content from past data.

From Reuters • May 10, 2023

I was collecting grass for the camels of the Three Magi, who were coming that night with presents for all the children.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago