Meaning & use
wizardry
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablefigurative
Great skill or cleverness, especially in a technical or creative activity.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural, and no 'a' before it.
Patterns
- technical wizardry
- a piece of wizardry
- the wizardry of someone
The engineer's wizardry made the old computer run like new.
The film's special effects are pure wizardry.
She showed real wizardry in solving the puzzle.
noununcountableliterary
Magic or the practice of magic, especially in stories.
Grammar: Uncountable: you cannot say 'a wizardry'.
Patterns
- the wizardry of Merlin
- study wizardry
In the legend, Merlin's wizardry saved the kingdom.
The school teaches wizardry and potions.
He used wizardry to open the locked door.
Common combinations
- technical wizardry
- The new phone is a marvel of technical wizardry.
- pure wizardry
- Her performance on the piano was pure wizardry.
- a piece of wizardry
- The goal was a piece of wizardry.
- computer wizardry
- He used computer wizardry to recover the lost files.
Synonyms and how they differ
- magic
- Can mean literal magic or a wonderful quality; 'wizardry' often suggests clever skill, especially technical.
- expertise
- Means special knowledge or skill; 'wizardry' is more dramatic and suggests amazing cleverness.
- brilliance
- Means very great intelligence or talent; 'wizardry' often focuses on cleverness in doing something.
Opposites
Word family
- wizard noun
- A man with magic powers, or a very skilled person.
- wizardly adjective
- Like a wizard; very skilled or magical.
Commonly confused: wizardry or witchcraft?
wizardry vs witchcraft
Witchcraft usually refers to magic practiced by women, often in a negative or historical context. Wizardry is more often used figuratively for skill.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'wizardry' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Wizardry is uncountable, so it can be used without 'a' or a plural, as in option 1. Option 2 uses 'a' incorrectly. Option 3 invents a verb. Option 4 uses a plural form that does not exist.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wizardry”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.