old master

noun

: a work of art by an established master and especially by any of the distinguished painters of the 16th, 17th, or early 18th century
also : such an artist

Examples of old master in a Sentence

Their collection of old masters will be sold at the auction.
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.
In the same era of fitful decolonization that began in the late Forties, the power of the old masters of the universe grew at a historically unprecedented rate. Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 Despite, or perhaps because of, his penchant for fantastic subject matter, Frazetta had the gift of creating visual worlds that packed lots of story into a single image loaded with mystery and atmosphere, in the manner of revered old masters like Rembrandt or Caravaggio. Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Barry Lian, a 24-year-old master’s degree graduate from southeastern China who spent three years studying in the US, had dreams of working on Wall Street – until his student visa was abruptly revoked last July. Joyce Jiang, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025 Between them, the three parcels amount to just over 28 acres of Mission Bay Park, one of the city’s crown jewels and property that is governed by a decades-old master plan. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for old master

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of old master was circa 1684

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Cite this Entry

“Old master.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old%20master. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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