master

1 of 3

noun

mas·ter ˈma-stər

plural masters

Synonyms of master next

a(1)

: a male teacher

(2)

: a person holding an academic degree higher than a bachelor's but lower than a doctor's

also : the degree itself

often capitalized : a revered religious leader

: a worker or artisan qualified to teach apprentices compare apprentice entry 1 sense 1b, journeyman sense 1

d(1)

: an artist, performer, or player of consummate (see consummate entry 1 sense 1) skill

(2)

: a great figure of the past (as in science or art) whose work serves as a model or ideal

: one having authority over another : ruler, governor

This decisive battle left him master of Europe.

: one that conquers or masters : victor, superior

in the new challenger the champion found his master

: a person licensed to command a merchant ship

: one having control

proved himself master of the situation

: an owner especially of an animal

: the employer especially of a servant

: a person who holds another person in slavery

h(1)

dialect : husband

(2)

: the male head of a household

a(1)

archaic : mr.

(2)

: a youth or boy too young to be called mister

—used as a title

: the eldest son of a Scottish viscount or baron (see baron sense 2a)

: a presiding (see preside sense 2) officer in an institution or society (such as a college)

: any of several officers of court appointed to assist (as by hearing and reporting) a judge

: a master mechanism (see mechanism sense 1) or device

: an original from which copies can be made

especially : a master recording (such as a magnetic tape)

mastership

ˈma-stər-ˌship

noun

master

2 of 3

adjective

: being or relating to a master: such as

: having chief authority : dominant

: skilled, proficient

a prosperous master builder—

Current Biography

: principal, predominant

: superlative

—often used in combination

a master-liar

: being a device or mechanism that controls the operation of another mechanism or that establishes a standard (such as a dimension or weight)

: being or relating to a master from which duplicates are made

master

3 of 3

verb

mastered; mastering ˈma-st(ə-)riŋ

transitive verb

: to become master of : overcome

mastered his fears

: to become skilled or proficient in the use of

master a foreign language

: to gain a thorough understanding of

had mastered every aspect of publishing—

Current Biography

: to produce a master recording of (something, such as a musical rendition)

Example Sentences

Noun the master and mistress of the house She is a master of her craft. Adjective a master craftsman who makes fine wood furniture of his own designs Verb She mastered French in college. He is determined to master every aspect of the business.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Among the fixes, the state is demanding that BPS develop a long-term master facilities plan by December to modernize the district’s buildings, many of which lack gyms, libraries, and cafeterias. —

James Vaznis, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2023 According to the judges’ ruling, Van Houten earned her master’s degree in humanities while incarcerated and worked as a tutor. —

Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2023 The all-star New York salsa, charanga and conjunto band made its concert debut 50 years ago and was formed by members of conga master Ray Barretto’s band. —

George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2023 As in previous years, Samsung’s 2023 smart monitors seem to be aiming to be jack of all trades, and master of none. —

Jon Porter, The Verge, 24 May 2023 Armed with a degree in veterinary science and a masters and doctorate in theriogenology, the study of animal reproduction, Hwang’s rise to prominence started with his successful cloning of cows and pigs. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 May 2023 She was born and raised on the East Coast but relocated to Missoula, Montana, in 2019 to earn her master’s degree in environmental journalism. —

Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 23 May 2023 Yam Yam noted that the more Carolyn talked about her master Birdcage plan, the bigger her target became. —

Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 May 2023 The upstairs area includes an 1,800-square-foot master suite with a scenic-view balcony, spacious primary bathroom, and grand walk-in closet. —

Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 May 2023

Adjective

And coming back to her non-master suite? —

Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022 On the lower deck, owners can choose between three or four cabins, with a mid-master stateroom anchoring the layout. —

Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022 Some of the most intriguing whiskey coming out of Beam these days is the work of Freddie Noe (who now holds the title of co-master distiller with his father Fred Noe), specifically his Little Book lineup of blended whiskeys. —

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 May 2022 There is a private entrance to the master suite and office, a large guest suite with a bathroom and an ADU with a separate entry on the lower level. —

oregonlive, 27 June 2020 The interior features high ceilings, custom millwork, and walnut floors and paneling, and the master suite has his-and-her baths and closets, a sitting area, and a balcony. —

TheWeek, 27 June 2020 Is Keaton physically hunky enough to play the master CIA death machine? —

Michael Heaton, cleveland.com, 15 Sep. 2017

Verb

Severino mastered their makeshift order, allowing just one hit — a homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. — and three walks across six and two-thirds innings. —

Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 29 May 2023 Of course the best way to avoid having to pay baggage fees at all is to master the art of packing light and stick to traveling carry-on only (plus your personal item). —

Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2023 The onetime wandering travel writer mastered the art of making the ordinary seem extraordinary. —

David Shribman, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023 Some of the world’s biggest mining companies have tried to master the HPAL process — and failed. —

Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 10 May 2023 To drive peak performance, leaders must master the art of keeping communication short and simple. —

Abiola Salami, Forbes, 4 May 2023 Musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed more than 800 major works, mastering every musical genre of his era, earning him the distinction of being one of the world’s greatest composers in his short 35 years. —

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2023 Its undergraduate curriculum requires students to master not only the content of their subjects but also learn skills such as problem solving and communication. —

Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2023 In Karen, the KNLA is also fighting several breakaway Karen proxy forces allied with the regime, which long ago mastered a divide-and-conquer strategy. —

Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'master.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, from Old English magister & Anglo-French meistre, both from Latin magister; akin to Latin magnus large — more at much

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of master was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Master.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/master. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

master

1 of 3 noun

mas·ter ˈmas-tər

: a male teacher

: a person holding an academic degree between a bachelor's and a doctor's

: an independent skilled worker

especially : one qualified to teach apprentices

: an artist or performer of great skill

: one having authority : ruler

: one that conquers or masters

: the captain of a merchant ship

: an owner especially of a slave or animal

: the employer especially of a servant

—used as a title for a boy too young to be called mister

: a master machine or device

mastership

-ˌship

noun

master

2 of 3 adjective

: being a master

a master carpenter

: being the main or guiding one

a master plan

: controlling the operation of other devices

a master clock

master

3 of 3 verb

mastered; mastering -t(ə-)riŋ

: overcome sense 1, subdue

master an enemy

master a desire

: to become skilled at

master arithmetic

Etymology

Noun

Middle English master "master," from Old English magister and early French meistre, both meaning "master" and both from Latin magister "master, teacher, one who holds high political or military office" — related to maestro, magistrate, mistress

Legal Definition

master

1 of 2 noun

mas·ter

: an individual or entity (as a corporation) having control or authority over another: as

: the owner of a slave

: employer compare servant

: principal sense 1a

: an officer of the court appointed (as under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53) to assist a judge in a particular case by hearing and reporting on the case, sometimes by making findings of fact and conclusions of law, and by performing various related functions

Note: Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a master may be a magistrate or else may be a person with some special expertise in the matter. The word master as used in the Federal Rules encompasses a referee, an auditor, an examiner, and an assessor. If the master makes findings of fact, they are reviewable de novo by the court except when the parties have stipulated that the findings will be reviewed for clear error or that the master's findings are to be final.

master

2 of 2 adjective

: being the principal or controlling one : governing a number of subordinate like things

a master insurance policy