Standard Lemma guide

masterly

adj · adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːstəli/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈmæ-/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈmæstɚli/
  • CMU ARPABET: M AE1 S T ER0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Her years of experience enabled her to render a masterly performance.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: maestrolike, masterlike, masterous, able, artful, habile, accomplished, adept, adroit, apt, capable, competent, consummate, conversant, crack, crafty, deft, dexterous, expert, facile, fluent, gain, handy, masterful, masterly, professional, proficient, qualified, quick, ready, skilled, skillful, thoroughbred, tight, practiced, versed

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Like a master; arbitrary; domineering, imperious.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, obsolete, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: despotic, overbearing

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

In a masterful manner; competently, masterfully.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expertly, skilfully

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

having or revealing supreme mastery or skill

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a consummate artist
  • consummate skill
  • a masterful speaker
  • masterful technique
  • a masterly performance of the sonata
  • a virtuoso performance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: consummate, masterful, virtuoso(a)

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

PIE word *méǵh2s From Middle English maisterli, from maister (“leader, ruler; high official; official in charge of a place; person in control; employer; owner; schoolmaster, teacher; scholar, sage; holder of a master's degree; religious teacher; master craftsman; expert; magician; social superior; husband; lover; Jesus Christ; a god; male stud animal”) + -li (suffix forming adjectives). Maister is derived from Old English mæġester (“master”) and Old French maistre (“master”) (modern French maître), both from Latin magister (“teacher; master”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh2s (“big, great”). The English word is analysable as master + -ly.

From Middle English maisterli (“artistically; skilfully; in the manner of a conqueror or master; overconfidently”), from maister (see etymology 1) + -li (suffix forming adverbs); analysable as master + -ly (suffix forming adverbs).

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: майсторски (majstorski) — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Georgian: ოსტატური (osṭaṭuri) — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • German: meisterlich — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • German: meisterhaft — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Hungarian: mesteri — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Icelandic: snilldarlegur — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Icelandic: snjall — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Ido: maestrala — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Italian: maestrevole — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Italian: magistrale — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Italian: sapiente — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Macedonian: мајсторски (majstorski) — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Norwegian Bokmål: mesterlig — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: meisterleg — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Polish: mistrzowski — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Romanian: măiestru — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Russian: мастерской (masterskoj) — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Spanish: destrísimo — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Spanish: señoril — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Thai: ถ่อง (tɔ̀ng) — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Welsh: meistrol — executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
  • Bulgarian: ма́йсторски (májstorski) — in a masterful manner — see also masterfully
  • Finnish: taiturimaisesti — in a masterful manner — see also masterfully
  • Hungarian: mesterien — in a masterful manner — see also masterfully
  • Italian: maestrevolmente — in a masterful manner — see also masterfully
  • Italian: magistralmente — in a masterful manner — see also masterfully
  • Italian: magistrevolmente — in a masterful manner — see also masterfully
  • Spanish: magistralmente — in a masterful manner — see also masterfully