masterly

adjective

mas·​ter·​ly ˈma-stər-lē 

1

: suitable to or resembling that of a master

especially : indicating thorough knowledge or superior skill and power

a masterly performance

2

: having the power and skill of a master

she's masterly at description

—Caroline Knapp

masterliness noun

masterly adverb

Masterful vs. Masterly: Usage Guide

Some commentators insist that use of masterful should be limited to its early "domineering" sense in order to preserve a distinction between it and masterly. The distinction is a modern one, excogitated by a 20th century pundit in disregard of the history of the word. Both words developed in a parallel manner but the earlier sense of masterly, equivalent to the "domineering" sense of masterful, dropped out of use. Since masterly had but one sense, the pundit opined that it would be tidy if masterful were likewise limited to one sense and he forthwith condemned use of masterful to mean "having mastery" as an error. This later sense of masterful, which is slightly older than the sense of masterly intended to replace it, has continued in reputable use all along; it cannot rationally be called an error.

Synonyms

• adroit
• artful
• bravura
• deft
• delicate
• dexterous
• dextrous
• expert
• masterful
• practiced
• practised
• skillful
• virtuoso
• workmanlike

Examples of masterly in a Sentence

She did a masterly job of organizing the conference.

a masterly performance of one of the most difficult ballets in the repertory

Recent Examples on the Web

What sets Ives apart is his masterly fusion of disparate materials: tattered old tunes, newfangled dissonances, received classical forms, self-fashioned streams of consciousness. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

The authors of this concise and masterly introduction to the topic go some way toward filling that gap. —Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2019

His accent was unaccented, and his biking around the city was masterly. —Hannah Whitaker, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024

His handling of her final moments, ultimately placing her calmly sitting on the edge of the stage, is masterly. —David Benedict, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

masterly

adjective

mas·​ter·​ly ˈmas-tər-lē 

: suitable to or resembling a master especially in superior knowledge or skill

masterly adverb