magisterial

[ maj-uh-steer-ee-uhl ]
See synonyms for magisterial on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or befitting a master; of importance or consequence; authoritative; weighty: a magisterial pronouncement by the director of the board.

  2. imperious; domineering: a magisterial tone of command.

  1. of or befitting a magistrate or the office of a magistrate: The judge spoke with magisterial gravity.

  2. of the rank of a magistrate: magisterial standing.

Origin of magisterial

1
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, -al1

Other words from magisterial

  • mag·is·te·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • mag·is·te·ri·al·ness, noun
  • un·mag·is·te·ri·al, adjective

Words that may be confused with magisterial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use magisterial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for magisterial

magisterial

/ (ˌmædʒɪˈstɪərɪəl) /


adjective
  1. commanding; authoritative

  2. domineering; dictatorial

  1. of or relating to a teacher or person of similar status

  2. of or relating to a magistrate

Origin of magisterial

1
C17: from Late Latin magisteriālis, from magister master

Derived forms of magisterial

  • magisterially, adverb
  • magisterialness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012