Muggle

A Muggle is the wizarding world term for a person who is born to two non-magical parents and possesses no magical ability of their own. The vast majority of the global population consists of Muggles, who live largely in ignorance of the existence of witches, wizards, and the magical community that secretly coexists with them. The term is distinct from a Squib, which refers to a non-magical individual born to at least one magical parent. Notable Squibs include Argus Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts, and Arabella Figg, a neighbor of the Dursley family. The concept of a Muggle is fundamental to the system of Blood Status within wizarding society, which includes:

• Muggle-born: A witch or wizard born to two Muggle parents, such as Hermione Granger and Lily Evans.
• Half-blood: A witch or wizard with both magical and Muggle ancestry, such as Harry Potter, Severus Snape, and Tom Riddle.
• Pure-blood: A witch or wizard with no known Muggle ancestors, a status claimed by families like the Malfoy family and the Black family.

The relationship between the wizarding and Muggle worlds is governed by the International Statute of Secrecy, a law enacted in 1692 to hide the existence of magic from the non-magical population. This was done primarily to prevent the persecution of witches and wizards, which had been widespread in the Middle Ages. Attitudes towards Muggles within the wizarding community vary widely:

• Benevolent Curiosity: Some wizards, like Arthur Weasley, are fascinated by Muggles and their inventions, running the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic.
• Indifference or Condescension: Many wizards view Muggles as simple, ignorant, and generally uninteresting, treating them with a patronizing air.
• Extreme Prejudice: Pure-blood supremacists, most notably Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, hold a deep-seated hatred for Muggles and Muggle-born wizards, whom they pejoratively call Mudbloods. Voldemort's agenda included subjugating Muggles and establishing pure-blood dominance.

To maintain secrecy, the Ministry of Magic employs specialized wizards called Obliviators to erase the memories of Muggles who witness magic, using the Memory Charm (Obliviate).

By design, most Muggles remain completely unaware of the magical world. However, there are exceptions:

• The Muggle Prime Minister: The sitting Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is officially informed of the wizarding world's existence upon taking office. The Minister for Magic makes occasional contact to report on events that may affect the Muggle world, as seen when Cornelius Fudge and later Rufus Scrimgeour visited the Prime Minister.
• Relatives of Witches and Wizards: The immediate Muggle family of a Muggle-born or Half-blood student, such as the Granger family and the Evans family, are aware of magic. The Dursley family were also aware, though they harbored a deep fear and hatred of it.
• Accidental Exposure: Muggles can be directly affected by magical creatures or events. For example, Muggles cannot see Dementors, but they can feel their chilling, depressive effects. The rampage of the Giants and the collapse of the Brockdale Bridge were magical events that had consequences in the Muggle world.

Several Muggles play a direct or indirect role in the story:

• The Dursley family: Vernon Dursley, Petunia Dursley, and Dudley Dursley are Harry Potter's abusive relatives who raise him for ten years while trying to suppress his magic.
• The Granger family: Hermione Granger's parents, a pair of dentists who are supportive of their daughter's magical abilities.
• Frank Bryce: The elderly gardener for the Riddle family, who was murdered by Lord Voldemort in the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
• Tom Riddle Sr.: A wealthy Muggle from Little Hangleton who was Lord Voldemort's father. Voldemort murdered him and his paternal grandparents.
• The Roberts family: The Muggle managers of the campsite for the Quidditch World Cup, who were terrorized by Death Eaters.

J.K. Rowling has stated that she created the word “Muggle” from the English slang word “mug,” which means a foolish or easily duped person. She softened the word by adding the “-gle” suffix to make it sound less insulting and “a bit more cuddly.” (J.K. Rowling interview).

• The word “Muggle” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003, defined as “a person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill.”
• In the American wizarding community, the term for a non-magical person is No-Maj, short for “No Magic.” This term was introduced in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series (film).