mastery

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

noun

, plural mas·ter·ies

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 Words From

• non·master·y noun plural nonmasteries
• pre·master·y noun
• re·master·y noun plural remasteries

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastery¹

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

Example Sentences

His Madison Square Garden rally was another example of his mastery of propaganda, the spectacle and politics as entertainment.

From Salon

Her mastery of the medium matched that of Madonna and Michael Jackson in the 1980s - with the videos for her Lemonade album acting as a powerful celebration of black womanhood and female power.

From BBC

To the extent he mounted a racial crusade, it was through his acting — and specifically his hard-won mastery of spoken language.

From Los Angeles Times

If the medium is indeed the message, Trump, and his mastery of the logic of television and digital media have been among his greatest weapons.

From Salon

In Jeremy Saulnier’s “Rebel Ridge,” a “Rambo”-inspired riff on racial profiling and the insidious banality of evil baked into American policing, the filmmaker demonstrates his mastery of the taut action thriller.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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