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

• 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

Vavassori and Errani’s mastery of the doubles court shows why the tradeoffs may need adjusting for the future: Cutting out lots of their comrades means cutting down the most enticing matchups of singles vs. doubles. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025

The direct-to-consumer (DTC) performance marketing space, once dominated by technical mastery and deep platform knowledge, is facing a reckoning. —Matt Emma, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025

He is known for his mastery of natural glazes, mentorship of other artists, and dedication to a humble life despite his professional success. —Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2025

Four years later, his latest effort shows a burgeoning mastery of a slinky, convention-defying sound. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 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