magisterial
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or befitting a master; of importance or consequence; authoritative; weighty.
a magisterial pronouncement by the director of the board.
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imperious; domineering.
a magisterial tone of command.
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of or befitting a magistrate or the office of a magistrate.
The judge spoke with magisterial gravity.
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of the rank of a magistrate.
magisterial standing.
adjective
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commanding; authoritative
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domineering; dictatorial
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of or relating to a teacher or person of similar status
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of or relating to a magistrate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of magisterial
First recorded in 1625–35; from Late Latin magisteriālis “pertaining to a teacher or magistrate” (equivalent to Latin magister “magistrate, teacher, master” + -ālis ); see origin at master, -al 1
Explanation
A person who is magisterial can be distinguished and grand, or possibly just conceited and bossy. You will learn a lot if you listen to a magisterial presentation of early American history. The Latin word for teacher is magister, so think of magisterial as describing a person with the great authority of a teacher or learned person. It can also mean related to the office of magistrate — think of magisterial documents or inquiries into a matter. If, however, someone calls you magisterial, he or she may think you are a bit pompous. It will irritate you if a person speaks to you in a magisterial tone!
Vocabulary lists containing magisterial
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The images of Preston performing at the famous concert, like his magisterial talent, are simply breathtaking.
From Salon ● Feb. 20, 2026
She immediately comes off as a magisterial diagnostician and adept leader with bold plans to modernize the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency care experience.
From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2026
I was hooked by the magisterial piano and sax solos of the epic “Jungleland,” set in a romanticized New York City—instantly my first favorite Bruce song.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025
“Sunday,” the culminating hymn of “Sunday in the Park With George,” closes Act 1 to magisterial effect.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2025
“Chaplain,” he announced with magisterial rigidity, “we charge you formally with being Washington Irving and taking capricious and unlicensed liberties in censoring the letters of officers and enlisted men. Are you guilty or innocent?”
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
