No-Majs

No-Maj is the term used by the North American wizarding community for a person entirely without magic at birth. It is the direct American English equivalent of the British English term, Muggle. The term and the cultural context surrounding it were introduced by J.K. Rowling to distinguish the American magical society from its British counterpart, primarily within the Fantastic Beasts film series and its supplementary materials. A No-Maj is born to non-magical parents and is incapable of performing or learning magic.

The history of No-Majs, from the perspective of the American wizarding community, is intrinsically linked to the history of their persecution of witches and wizards. The trauma of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1690s, in which magical folk were persecuted by No-Majs, profoundly shaped the relationship between the two communities in North America (Pottermore). This led the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) to institute Rappaport's Law in 1790 (Pottermore). This law enforced a strict and total segregation between wizards and No-Majs, far more rigid than the separation in Europe. Under Rappaport's Law, intermarriage or even friendship between magical and non-magical people was illegal. This legislation was designed to protect the American wizarding community and preserve the International Statute of Secrecy by minimizing all contact, thereby creating a deep-seated cultural divide that persisted into the 20th century.

Physically, No-Majs are indistinguishable from witches and wizards. The capacity for magic is an innate, genetic quality rather than a physical one. From the wizarding world's viewpoint, the collective “personality” of the No-Maj community is one of complete ignorance regarding the existence of magic. This is a direct result of the stringent secrecy enforced by MACUSA. When confronted with inexplicable magical phenomena, their reactions can range from disbelief and confusion to fear and hostility, a lingering echo of historical tensions.

The defining characteristic of a No-Maj is the complete and congenital absence of magical ability.

• They cannot cast spells, brew potions, or interact with most magical devices.
• They are unable to see magically concealed locations, such as the Woolworth Building headquarters of MACUSA, or certain magical creatures without the aid of a specific spell or potion.
• Individuals born to magical parents who lack magical ability are known as Squibs, a distinct and separate classification from No-Majs.

By definition, No-Majs do not knowingly own authentic magical objects. The strict laws of the American wizarding community ensure that any magical artifact that falls into No-Maj hands is promptly retrieved and the memory of the event is erased by an Obliviator. A notable exception occurred when No-Maj Jacob Kowalski accidentally came into possession of Newt Scamander's suitcase containing numerous magical creatures, a central event in the first Fantastic Beasts film (Fantastic Beasts).

The relationship between No-Majs and the American wizarding community is historically one of fear, mistrust, and legally enforced segregation. Rappaport's Law forbade any fraternization, making the American wizarding world one of the most secretive and isolated in the world (Pottermore). This is in contrast to the United Kingdom, where relationships between wizards and Muggles, while not common and often frowned upon by pure-blood supremacists, were not illegal. The forbidden romance between the Legilimens Queenie Goldstein and the No-Maj Jacob Kowalski is a primary example of the challenges and dangers of such relationships under MACUSA's jurisdiction in the 1920s (Fantastic Beasts).

The term No-Maj is a straightforward American colloquialism, a shortened form of the phrase “No Magic”. It is pronounced “no-madge” (J.K. Rowling interview). This reflects a tendency in American English to create practical, descriptive portmanteaus.

• The term “No-Maj” was created by J.K. Rowling specifically for the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series to establish a unique American wizarding lexicon. It does not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels, which are set primarily in the United Kingdom.
• The term was first revealed to the public through Pottermore in 2015, prior to the release of the first film, where it generated significant discussion among fans accustomed to the term Muggle (Pottermore).