Meanings
comparative more magisterial · superlative most magisterial
- Befitting the status or skill of a magister or master; authoritative, masterly.
The economist and demographer David Lam, in his magisterial 2011 presidential address to the Population Association of America, identified the keys to global prosperity in the face of record rates of population growth.
2013, Angus Deaton, The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality - Of or pertaining to a master, magistrate, the magisterium, or one in authority.
Instead a ‘magisterial’ Reformation was created: these were the Protestant movements led by the magistri, the theologically educated masters, and magistrates of all descriptions – kings, princes, city councils.
2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 622 - Pertaining to, produced by, or of the nature of, magistery.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveoffensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
adjectiveused of a person's appearance or behavior; befitting an eminent person
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinmagisterium
- Late Latinmagisterialis
- Englishmagisterial
From Late Latin magisterialis, from Latin magisterium.
More words from Late Latin, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French magistériel
- magistérielpertaining to, produced by, or of the nature of, magistery
Cite this entry
magisterial. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magisterial
“magisterial.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magisterial. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “magisterial,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magisterial.
Source: magisterial on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.