Are mean girls also bullies?

The girls that prey on the weak, specifically go out of their way to make a person miserable....bullies or aka mean girls. When I was in school, “mean girls” existed in middle school and high school, but now it’s very common in elementary school. So much so, that when school officials at my daughter’s elementary school were told about an incident of certain kids that have been known to pick on other kids, they dismissed it as them merely being “mean girls” and not “bullies” per say. Now, these girls have done nothing physical to these children. It’s all verbal, teasing, etc. These girls have made other kids cry, kids dread going to school, spend recess in class to avoid the mean girls at recess. Do you agree they’re not bullies and just mean girls?