maestro

noun

mae·​stro ˈmī-(ˌ)strō 

plural maestros or maestri ˈmī-ˌstrē 

: a master usually in an art

especially : an eminent composer, conductor, or teacher of music

Synonyms

• ace
• adept
• artist
• authority
• cognoscente
• connoisseur
• crackerjack
• crackajack
• dab [chiefly British]
• dab hand [chiefly British]
• expert
• fiend
• geek
• guru
• hand
• hotshot
• master
• maven
• mavin
• meister
• past master
• proficient
• scholar
• shark
• sharp
• virtuoso
• whiz
• wizard

Examples of maestro in a Sentence

a maestro of the violin

Recent Examples on the Web

While mass-market tequilas and margaritas dominated the global scene for centuries, Mexico's true tequila maestros quietly refined their creations, waiting for the day the rest of the world recognized what tequila could be. —Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Here Now, and Perfect from music video maestro Millicent Hailes. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2025

Loves spinning myths about his originality and influence, Australia’s – the world’s – wild maestro of doof. —Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025

This stunning collaboration between Moët Hennessy and cocktail maestro, Franck Audoux, oozes elegance. —T+l Editors, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, master, from Latin magister — more at master

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

maestro

noun

mae·​stro ˈmī-strō 

plural maestros or maestri -ˌstrē 

: a master of an art and especially of music

Etymology

from Italian maestro, literally "master," from Latin magister "master, one who holds a higher political office" — related to magistrate, master