maestro

noun

mae·​stro ˈmī-(ˌ)strō 

plural maestros or maestri ˈmī-ˌstrē 

: a master usually in an art

especially : an eminent composer, conductor, or teacher of music

Synonyms

• ace
• adept
• artist
• authority
• cognoscente
• connoisseur
• crackerjack
• crackajack
• dab [chiefly British]
• dab hand [chiefly British]
• expert
• fiend
• geek
• guru
• hand
• hotshot
• master
• maven
• mavin
• meister
• past master
• proficient
• scholar
• shark
• sharp
• virtuoso
• whiz
• wizard

Examples of maestro in a Sentence

a maestro of the violin

Recent Examples on the Web

This year, that same celebration has a special emphasis to also fete the quarter of a century anniversary of Muspratt’s first season stepping behind the baton as maestro for the NWI Symphony Orchestra. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025

Even a maestro of disgust could feel nauseous seeing his life work ranked. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025

The poet and author Patricia Lockwood, a maestro of tweeting, had departed Twitter after Trump used the platform to incite the January 6th riot. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

For his first time with Los Angeles, Dončić was in complete control of the offense, resembling his Dallas self as a mismatch-hunting pick-and-roll maestro. —Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, master, from Latin magister — more at master

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

maestro

noun

mae·​stro ˈmī-strō 

plural maestros or maestri -ˌstrē 

: a master of an art and especially of music

Etymology

from Italian maestro, literally "master," from Latin magister "master, one who holds a higher political office" — related to magistrate, master