mage

Word family

• magic
  nounB1
• magical
  adjectiveB2
• magician
  nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Mage is a broad literary or fantasy word for a person linked with magic, and it can also suggest a deeply learned wise figure in older writing. Wizard is the most familiar fantasy term and often suggests someone trained in spells and books. Sorcerer feels darker and more dramatic, often hinting at unusual or dangerous power rather than patient study. Magus is rarer and more formal, and it often sounds historical, religious, or scholarly. Sage is different because it mainly stresses wisdom and judgment, not magic. A game story may send a young mage into battle, while an older poem may describe a respected wise teacher as a mage.

Common collocations

Etymology

Mage came into English through French from Latin magus and Greek magos, a word first used for a member of an ancient priestly class in Persia. English later used it for a very learned wise person, and modern fantasy writing developed the now-familiar sense of someone who uses magic.