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

And the Brewers’ reward for their mastery over Ohtani at the plate through the first three games? —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025

Staying true to Doctorow’s novel, if never quite achieving its mastery, Ragtime sets out to illustrate the grand notion of America as a melting pot, a place where in the early 1900s the country still offered the hope or the ideal of something like justice and equality. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025

The deck team is able to undock with no big disaster, and though Josh worried about proving his mastery of Spanish cuisine, his lunchtime paella is a hit. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025

The Circle of Courage—an Indigenous framework shared by Sioux researcher Martin Brokenleg—names these as belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. —Jonathon Reed, Time, 8 Oct. 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