mastermind

1 of 2

noun

mas·​ter·​mind ˈma-stər-ˌmīnd How to pronounce mastermind (audio)
ˌmas-tər-ˈ
: a person who supplies the directing or creative intelligence for a project

mastermind

2 of 2

verb

masterminded; masterminding; masterminds

transitive verb

: to be the mastermind of

Examples of mastermind in a Sentence

Noun the mastermind behind the terrorist plot the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme Verb They masterminded a unique solution to the problem. He masterminded the bank robbery.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
With Bill Belichick set to prowl the sidelines again after a brief post-Pats cooldown period, the 72-year-old mastermind joins an elite club of former head coaches who’ve used media as a launching pad for a return trip to the X’s and O’s. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Dec. 2024 The 85-year-old mastermind behind pivotal fashion moments of stars including Cher, Tina Turner, Miley Cyrus and Zendaya was rushed to hospital after tripping on a Subway grate and plunging face-first to the ground. Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
Guardiola has masterminded countless drubbings, too; whether his team have scored four, six or even just two, there has been no doubt after those matches that City have been top dogs in Manchester. Sam Lee, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024 The only thing less likely than Thunderclap Newman, the strange band masterminded by Pete Townshend in 1969, having a No. 1 single is the notion that a 400-plus page history of them would be published 55 years later. Jem Aswad, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mastermind 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mastermind was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near mastermind

Cite this Entry

“Mastermind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

mastermind

noun
mas·​ter·​mind
ˈmas-tər-ˌmīnd,
ˌmas-tər-ˈmīnd
: a person who invents or directs a project
mastermind verb

More from Merriam-Webster on mastermind

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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