Wizard

A wizard is the term for a male human who is born with the innate ability to perform magic. The female counterpart is known as a witch. Collectively, wizards and witches form the wizarding world or magical community, a society that exists secretly alongside the non-magical, or Muggle, world. The cornerstone of this secrecy is the International Statute of Secrecy. Being a wizard is an inherent trait from birth; one cannot learn to become a wizard without this innate biological capacity. Young, untrained wizards often display accidental or uncontrolled magic, which typically becomes more focused and controllable with education and the use of a wand.

A wizard's magical ability is passed down through generations. The heritage of a wizard, often referred to as Blood Status, is a significant and often contentious aspect of wizarding society.

• Pure-blood: A wizard with no known Muggle or Muggle-born ancestors. Certain extremist families, such as the Malfoys and the Blacks, place a high value on pure-blood status, believing it makes them superior. Some of these families are listed in a directory known as the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
• Half-blood: A wizard with both magical and Muggle ancestry. This is the most common status for wizards. Notable half-bloods include Harry Potter, Severus Snape, and Lord Voldemort.
• Muggle-born: A wizard born to two non-magical parents. Magical ability can appear unexpectedly in Muggle families. Muggle-borns often face prejudice from blood purists, who use the derogatory slur “Mudblood”. Notable Muggle-borns include Hermione Granger and Lily Potter.
• Squib: An individual born into a wizarding family but who possesses no magical abilities. Squibs are rare and are the opposite of Muggle-born witches and wizards. Notable Squibs include Argus Filch and Arabella Figg.

Wizarding society functions with its own government, laws, economy, and social structures, largely hidden from Muggles.

• Government: In Great Britain, the primary governing body is the Ministry of Magic. It enforces laws, maintains order, and upholds the International Statute of Secrecy.
• Education: Magical education in Great Britain is primarily provided at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a boarding school for witches and wizards aged eleven to seventeen.
• Economy: The wizarding currency consists of gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts. The main financial institution is Gringotts Wizarding Bank, which is run by Goblins.
• Communities: While many wizards live integrated but hidden amongst Muggles, there are several all-wizarding settlements, such as the village of Hogsmeade and the valley of Godric's Hollow. Commercial hubs like Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley are also central to wizarding life.

All wizards possess the fundamental ability to use magic, though their power and skill vary widely depending on training, talent, and discipline.

• Spell-Casting: The most common form of magic, typically performed with a wand which acts as a channel for magical power. While wandless magic is possible, it is considerably more difficult and usually less precise.
• Magical Disciplines: Wizards study a wide range of magical subjects to hone their skills. Core disciplines taught at Hogwarts include Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Astronomy, and History of Magic.
• Special Abilities: Some wizards possess rare, innate abilities that cannot be learned by everyone. These include being a Parselmouth (the ability to speak to snakes), a Metamorphmagus (the ability to change one's physical appearance at will), or a Seer (the ability to see the future). Other advanced skills that can be learned include Apparition, becoming an Animagus, Legilimency, and Occlumency.

The word “wizard” derives from the Middle English wysard, which is formed from wys (meaning “wise”) and the suffix -ard. The term literally translates to “wise one,” reflecting the traditional archetype of wizards as learned sages and possessors of secret knowledge.

• J.K. Rowling has stated that the ability to perform magic is caused by a dominant and resilient gene. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• In the films, wizarding attire is often depicted differently than in the books. While the books describe most wizards wearing robes in their daily lives, the films often show them in Muggle-style clothing with a wizarding flair, such as dark, three-piece suits or tweed jackets. (film)