mastery

noun

mas·​tery ˈma-st(ə-)rē How to pronounce mastery (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here, the proof of Sanoë’s mastery is in the (fabric) pudding. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025 Saturn in Virgo reminds you that true mastery is a process. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 Praised by offensive line coach Jim Bollman as arriving with a rare mastery of the position, Mangold was compared to All-American LeCharles Bentley for his football IQ and technique. Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 Indeed, mastery of the legal rules, procedures, and principles is how lawyers distinguish themselves. Fabio Bertoni, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mastery

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mastery was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mastery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastery. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mastery

noun
mas·​tery ˈmas-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce mastery (audio)
plural masteries
1
: the position or authority of a master
2
3
: skill or knowledge that makes one master of something : command
a mastery of French

More from Merriam-Webster on mastery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!