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

• command
• IQ
• mastership
• 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

While the modern executive suite demands strategic vision, commercial fluency, and interpersonal mastery, many of today’s most effective tech leaders continue to draw deeply from their engineering roots. —Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

March 2025 King of Cups: This month invites you into the realms of emotional mastery and deep inner work. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025

Weber saw that bureaucrats’ strength lies in their mastery of specialized knowledge. —Michel Anteby, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2025

Tending your garden, organizing family photos or taking a daily walk are activities that may give you a sense of mastery over your environment when your finances feel outside of your control. —Diane Harris, New York Times, 12 Apr. 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