wizard
Americannoun
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wizards
plural
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a person who practices magic; magician or sorcerer.
- Synonyms:
- diviner, thaumaturge, necromancer, enchanter
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a conjurer or juggler.
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Also whiz, wiz a person of amazing skill or accomplishment.
a wizard at chemistry.
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Computers. a software feature that guides users through complex procedures with step-by-step instructions, often presented in dialog boxes.
noun
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a male witch or a man who practises or professes to practise magic or sorcery
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a person who is outstandingly clever in some specified field; expert
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obsolete a wise man
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computing a computer program that guides a user through a complex task
adjective
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informal superb; outstanding
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of or relating to a wizard or wizardry
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
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:
I walked up to the wizard and asked him, “What do they call you?”
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
At the movie’s premiere, Dolan embodied the wizard, appearing in an emerald green suit and top hat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
Every version of Merlin the wizard, spanning an expansive gender spectrum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026
McLaughlin will star as the titular wizard opposite Stanton as Hermione Granger and Stout as Ron Weasley.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026
In a flash, I see the wizard using the wand to curse the room.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
When a DDoS attack happened, the Big Pipes wizards usually knew how the attack was being carried out and the software behind it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
HBO on Wednesday revealed the release date and trailer for its new “Harry Potter” series, offering the first glimpse into the new version of Hogwarts, the fictional school for young wizards and witches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026
No, that doesn’t mean the wizards in robes are doing magic.
From Slate ● Feb. 28, 2026
The four men left for Russia through a Kenyan recruitment agency, Global Face Human Resources, which boasts on its website: "Let our HR wizards connect you to exciting opportunities".
From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026
One of the wizards spots Alex and me.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Definitions 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.
