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 of mastery

• 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

For these participants, competition with the humanoid robot created a fun challenge, clear objectives, and a rewarding sense of mastery that enhanced the overall gaming experience. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026

Seasons 1 and 2 of the AMC show have a mastery of an elevated, almost operatic tone. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 6 June 2026

Northwood showcased its mastery of the fundamentals by playing errorless defense behind freshman pitcher Olivia Chen and scored eight runs in the fifth inning to defeat Grace 11-1 in the Division 5 final at Deanna Manning Stadium. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026

Knight emphasized the importance of mastery over participation and high graduation rates. —Jake Przytarski, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026

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