ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wizard

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈwɪzɝd// UK //wˈɪzəd// wiz·ard
  1. 1 magic user (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person, usually a man, who has magical powers.

    a practitioner of magic or sorcery, typically depicted in folklore and fantasy literature as male.

    Example

    The old wizard waved his wooden staff and the heavy stone door opened.

    Example

    In many high-fantasy novels, the wizard serves as a mentor figure, possessing arcane knowledge that the protagonist must eventually master.
    • muggle
    • layperson
  2. 2 an expert (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    someone who is very good at a specific activity or subject.

    an individual possessing exceptional skill, proficiency, or talent in a particular field.

    Example

    My brother is a math wizard and can solve difficult equations in seconds.

    Example

    The firm hired a financial wizard to restructure their debt and navigate the complex tax regulations of the new market.
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  1. 3 software helper (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    a computer tool that leads you through a difficult task step by step.

    a software setup assistant that guides a user through a series of dialogue boxes to complete a complex configuration.

    Example

    Follow the installation wizard to set up your new printer.

    Example

    The software includes a configuration wizard that simplifies the process of connecting the database to the local network for non-technical users.
    • manual configuration
  2. 4 excellent (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Archaic Slang

    a very old-fashioned way to say something is great or excellent.

    an expression of high approval or excellence. This usage is highly dated and primarily associated with mid-20th-century British military slang.

    Example

    That was a wizard idea to bring a picnic to the park.

    Example

    The pilot remarked that it was a wizard show, using the characteristic slang of the era to praise the successful mission.
  3. 5 to use magic (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to perform magic or act like a wizard.

    to practice sorcery or perform actions associated with a wizard. Often used intransitively in fantasy contexts.

    Example

    The character spent his nights wizarding in the high tower.

    Example

    He spent years learning how to wizard effectively, though his spells often resulted in more smoke than actual transformation.
Origin

From Middle English wysard, wysarde, equivalent to wise + -ard. A uniquely medieval Anglo-Saxon word with no known morphologically exact cognates inside the Germanic family; did not gain distinct sense of "occultist, magic user" (as opposed to a philosopher or sage) until circa 1500s, aligning roughly with the starting English Renaissance. However, via Proto-Indo-European weyd- cognate with Proto-Celtic druwits (whence English druid), Proto-Slavic *vědьma (Polish wiedźma, Russian ве́дьма (védʹma)), Russian веду́н (vedún)). The sense of "old (male) virgin" is from a Japanese Internet meme where virgins who are typically friendless, shy, outcasts, and loners who don't fit in anywhere, legendarily gain magical powers upon reaching 30 years of age; popularized ultimately by 4chan and adjacent online incel spaces.

Word family

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