What exactly is a mage? I know it’s used for spellcasters, but the meaning seems vague and inconsistent, and personally, I’d like to think it refers to Wizards and Sorcerers specifically. In a past D&D edition, there was a specific sublcass called a "mage."
In the Realms, colloquially, it's another word for "wizard" for those knowledgeable about arcane spellcasting, and used to include sorcerers and even warlocks by those who aren't 'in the know.'#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 9, 2019
Would a Bard knowledgeable about the arcane and/or any skilled divine spellcaster be considered a mage? Divine spellcaster, no. No one knowledgeable about arcane spellcasting would call a bard a "mage" except as a compliment, if they cast a deft or very powerful or perfect-for-the-situation spell.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 9, 2019