sorcerer
Americannoun
-
sorcerers
plural
noun
Usage
What does sorcerer mean? A sorcerer is a person who can perform sorcery—witchcraft or magic. The word sorcerer can be used for any gender, but it typically refers to a man. The word sorceress refers to a woman who performs sorcery. The word sorcery often (though not always) refers to so-called black magic—magic used for evil purposes. That’s why sorcerer and sorceress are often used to refer to evil characters in works of fiction, especially in the fantasy genre. In contrast, similar words like wizard and magician usually imply that such figures use their powers for good. If not, you’d usually call them an evil wizard or evil magician. Apart from whether or not they use their supernatural powers for good or evil, the words sorcerer and sorceress often imply that such a person is very powerful due to having great skill and command of such powers. For this reason, the word sorcerer is sometimes used in a figurative way to refer to a person who is very skilled at something, as if they have magical abilities, as in Chris is a sorcerer at coding. The word sorcery can be used to refer to such skill. The words wizard and wizardry are used (even more commonly) in the same ways. Example: The sorcerer has cast a powerful spell to enchant this land.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sorcerer
1520–30; earlier sorcer, Middle English < Middle French sorcier, perhaps < Vulgar Latin *sortiārius one who casts lots, equivalent to Latin sort- (stem of sors ) lot, fate + -i- -i- + -ārius -ier 2; see -er 1
Compare meaning
How does sorcerer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Magical, mysterious, and quite possibly mythical, a sorcerer is a name for a spell-casting wizard. Use the noun sorcerer when you're talking about a magician who practices enchantments and conjures spells. Sorcerers appear in many fantasy novels and Shakespeare plays. The word for a female sorcerer is sorceress. The Latin word sors, "fate or fortune," is at the root of sorcerer, which didn't come into popular use until after the 1940 release of the Disney film "Fantasia," which featured Mickey Mouse as the character "the sorcerer's apprentice."
Vocabulary lists containing sorcerer
Fish in a Tree
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The Ch'i-lin Purse
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Magical Vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Given the actor's "Jujutsu Kaisen" role as a stoic, elite sorcerer that made his voice "highly recognisable in Europe", Ueno believes the verdict "will garner a lot of international interest".
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
An evil sorcerer is the last person you'd expect to see at an economic forum.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
Regardless, standout performances such as Daniel Camargo’s compelling prince, Léa Fleytoux’s fabulously arrow-sharp Firebird and Patrick Frenette’s demonic sorcerer held the stage with impressive individuality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
In the comics, the character is both a scientific genius and a sorcerer hailing from the fictional country of Latveria.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2025
The sorcerer priest was garbed in somber black, but for a hint of golden thread at collar, cuffs, and hem.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Historians believe members travelled through villages searching for troublemakers, including suspected sorcerers.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2023
In one beautifully uncanny scene, the duo stop by a virtual reality gaming studio and, equipped with headsets, plug into the fantasy, playing as flying sorcerers as they shoot the breeze.
From New York Times ● May 4, 2023
Around the king’s town are domed buildings and groves and thickets where the sorcerers of these people, men in charge of the religious cult, live.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
The intense finale of “Doctor Strange 2,” starring Olsen and Benedict Cumberbatch as dueling sorcerers, threw Wanda’s fate into question.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2022
“O Jewel among sorcerers, O Gem of Havnor, sparkle for us!”
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
