mastery

[mas-tuh-ree, mah-stuh-]

noun

plural

masteries 

1. command or grasp, as of a subject.

   a mastery of Italian.

2. superiority or victory.

   mastery over one's enemies.

3. the act of mastering.

4. expert skill or knowledge.

5. the state of being master; power of command or control.

mastery

/ ˈmɑːstərɪ /

noun

1. full command or understanding of a subject

2. outstanding skill; expertise

3. the power of command; control

4. victory or superiority

Other Word Forms

• nonmastery noun
• premastery noun
• remastery noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastery¹

1175–1225; master + -y ³; replacing Middle English maistrie < Old French

Example Sentences

Case in point: a single slice of American cheese in her stovetop mac keeps the sauce perfectly smooth, and suddenly, mastery feels delightfully achievable.

Read more on Salon

After Sinner won Wimbledon, it wasn’t hard to find murmuring that the 24-year-old Italian might be making a separation, that his sudden mastery of the grass vaporized Alcaraz’s last edge.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But Mr. Johnson, despite looking like a different man under prosthetics and a mop of curly hair, isn’t especially impressive, continuing to exhibit very little mastery of either facial expressions or voice.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Velasco’s mastery with paint and perspective, in both senses, is obvious—and once one understands what he was up to, the paintings pulse with meaning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There is a rush of mastery I don’t get when writing something or teaching a class.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ability 
• comprehension 
• dexterity 
• familiarity 
• finesse 
• genius 
• grasp 
• knack 
• know-how 
• knowledge 
• proficiency 
• prowess 
• skill 
• understanding 
• virtuosity 
• wizardry