wizard
Americannoun
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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:
Then again, the Argentine wizard now playing at his sixth World Cup has never had much trouble losing his defender.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 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
The Pittsburgh second baseman, known as a defensive wizard, hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2026
Despite the reluctance of her father, the underwater wizard Fujimoto, little Ponyo falls in love with her new friend and gives up her magical powers to become human.
From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026
Though they knew he was a wizard they showed him no regard, but rather a kind of cautious spitefulness.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Brundage joined a team of internet wizards at some of the largest tech companies and helped them—along with the U.S. government—take Kimwolf down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 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
Special effects are central both to “Oz’s” appeal and its plot: The big reveal is that technicians, not wizards, pull the levers that make an audience gasp.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025
Those who witnessed it have written of the terror and the awe they felt as they watched these two extraordinary wizards do battle.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
