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definitions

masterstroke

or mas·ter stroke

[mas-ter-strohk, mah-ster-]
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noun

a masterly action or achievement; an extremely skillful or effective action: War was avoided by a masterstroke of diplomacy.

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RELATED WORDS

achievement, advantage, triumph, victory

Nearby words

  1. masters,
  2. masters, edgar lee,
  3. mastership,
  4. mastersinger,
  5. masterson,
  6. masterwork,
  7. masterwort,
  8. mastery,
  9. masthead,
  10. mastic

Origin of masterstroke

First recorded in 1670–80; master + stroke1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for master-stroke

British Dictionary definitions for master-stroke

masterstroke

noun

an outstanding piece of strategy, skill, talent, etcyour idea is a masterstroke
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
Word Origin and History for master-stroke

master-stroke

n.

"masterly line or touch" (especially in painting), 1670s, from master (n.) + stroke (n.). Probably based on a Dutch or German model.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper