What this suffix does
-master names someone who masters or directs something with authority: grandmaster, taskmaster (a demanding boss), headmaster, webmaster.
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Suffix · forms nouns
-master
Names one who masters or directs something with authority: grandmaster, taskmaster, ringmaster, schoolmaster, headmaster, webmaster.
In Spanish: maestro de / jefe deIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
"grandmaster" is also a compliment
"a grandmaster of X" praises someone who fully masters their field: "a grandmaster of suspense" (Hitchcock).
How it is formed
Noun + master.
- grand + mastergrandmaster
- task + mastertaskmaster
- web + masterwebmaster
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
How it is pronounced
-master/ˌmæstər/ · sounds like "master"
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -master
In a phrase
- grandgrandmasterHe became a chess grandmaster at just sixteen.
- tasktaskmasterHer new boss is a real taskmaster.
- ringringmasterThe ringmaster introduced each act at the circus.
- schoolschoolmasterThe old schoolmaster taught at that school for forty years.
- headheadmasterThe headmaster gave a speech at graduation.
- webwebmasterThe webmaster fixed the broken link on the site.
- choirchoirmasterThe choirmaster picked the songs for the concert.
- postpostmasterThe postmaster helped us find the missing package.
Common mistakes
headmaster = any general boss
headmaster = the principal of a British school
"Headmaster" is specifically the head of a school in British English. In American English, the equivalent is "principal."
a grandmaster player
a grandmaster (in chess)
"Grandmaster" already implies being a top-level chess player. "Grandmaster player" is redundant in that context.
A trick to remember it
"Master" = the one in charge/who has mastered something, literal. grandMASTER = the supreme master. headMASTER = the master at the head (principal). webMASTER = the one who controls a website.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"She became a grandmaster at the age of sixteen." What is a "grandmaster" here?
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -master mean in English?
The suffix -master names one who masters or directs something with authority: grandmaster, taskmaster, ringmaster, schoolmaster, headmaster, webmaster. In Spanish it usually maps to maestro de / jefe de.
How do you pronounce -master?
The ending -master is pronounced /ˌmæstər/ · sounds like "master". For example, "grandmaster".
Can you give an example of a word with -master?
"grand" becomes "grandmaster". It is a typical example of the -master suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-keeper
Names the person who guards, tends, or manages something: gatekeeper, beekeeper, peacekeeper, timekeeper, shopkeeper, lighthouse keeper.
-maker
Names the person who makes or creates a specific thing: peacemaker, troublemaker, filmmaker, matchmaker, policymaker, dealmaker.
-smith
Names a craftsperson skilled in working a specific material or medium: blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, wordsmith, locksmith, gunsmith.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.