# mage

/mˈeɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mage
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a wizard or sorcerer

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a person who has magic powers, like a wizard or a sorcerer.

For teachers: a practitioner of magic or sorcery. Often used in modern fantasy fiction to denote a high-ranking or scholarly magic user.

- The old mage lived alone in a tall tower filled with magic books.
- In the epic fantasy series, the high mage was the only one capable of weaving the complex spells required to protect the city.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of fantasy gaming and literature.

### 2. a wise person

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a very wise person, especially one from ancient times.

For teachers: a person of great wisdom or learning. This sense is archaic and shares roots with the word 'magus'.

- The king traveled for weeks to seek advice from the ancient mage.
- The poet describes the philosopher as a mage who could see the hidden truths of the universe through deep study.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern speech; learners will mostly encounter it in poetry or historical novels.

## Examples

- The powerful mage cast a spell to protect the village.
- In many role-playing games, the mage is a character class that relies on intelligence and magical energy rather than physical strength.
- The ancient scrolls describe a lone mage who once balanced the elemental forces of the world through sheer force of will and arcane study.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.