mastery

noun

mas·​tery ˈma-st(ə-)rē 

1

a

: the authority of a master : dominion

b

: the upper hand in a contest or competition : superiority, ascendancy

2

a

: possession or display of great skill or technique

b

: skill or knowledge that makes one master of a subject : command

Synonyms

• command
• IQ
• mastership
• proficiency

Examples of mastery in a Sentence

We were impressed by her mastery of the subject.

She achieved a complete mastery of French.

He struggled to gain mastery of his fears.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those interests—and Larkin Poe’s mastery of many American musical forms—are on display on the duo’s seventh and latest studio release, Bloom, released January 24. —Bill Kopp, SPIN, 27 Jan. 2025

Students have become masters, and with mastery comes responsibility. —Naima Cochrane, VIBE.com, 23 Jan. 2025

High West’s whiskey range is a testament to its mastery of blending and innovation. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

As the Rams stacked victories one by one, the Vikings spiraled out of control, having no answer for McVay’s game-planning mastery. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maistrie, from Anglo-French mestrie, maistrie, from meistre master

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mastery

• self-mastery

Kids Definition

mastery

noun

mas·​tery ˈmas-t(ə-)rē 

plural masteries

1

: the position or authority of a master

2

: victory

3

: skill or knowledge that makes one master of something : command

a mastery of French