Langimage
English

mastermind

|mas/ter/mind|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈmæstərˌmaɪnd/

🇬🇧

/ˈmɑːstəmaɪnd/

chief planner

Etymology
Etymology Information

'mastermind' originates from English, combining 'master' meaning 'chief' or 'principal' and 'mind' meaning 'intellect' or 'thought'.

Historical Evolution

'mastermind' was first used in the early 20th century to describe someone with exceptional intellectual abilities.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to someone with a superior intellect, but it evolved to include those who plan complex schemes.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a person with an outstanding intellect or who plans and directs an ingenious and complex scheme or enterprise.

The mastermind behind the heist was never caught.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Verb 1

to plan and direct a complex scheme or enterprise.

She masterminded the entire marketing campaign.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42