master class

noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"master-class" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“master class” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
12
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A class, typically in a performing art such as music or drama, in which a teacher listens to and critiques the performance of individual students, one at a time, while the other students observe.

Key facts for master class
PropertyValue
Headwordmaster class
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters12
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “master class” sits in English frequency

master class falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

master class is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

master class has no tracked misspelling variants, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From master + class. First use appears c. 1861 in the publications of John Stuart Mill. The correct English form is master class, spelled M-A-S-T-E-R- -C-L-A-S-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    A class, typically in a performing art such as music or drama, in which a teacher listens to and critiques the performance of individual students, one at a time, while the other students observe.
  2. 2
    An action or series of actions that serve to demonstrate a person's mastery of a subject.
  3. 3
    A brilliant or virtuosic performance.

Etymology

From master + class. First use appears c. 1861 in the publications of John Stuart Mill.

This word in other languages

classe de maître(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "master class"?
"master class" is spelled M-A-S-T-E-R- -C-L-A-S-S.
What does "master class" mean?
As a noun, "master class" means: A class, typically in a performing art such as music or drama, in which a teacher listens to and critiques the performance of individual students, one at a time, while the other students observe.
What is the origin of the word "master class"?
From master + class. First use appears c. 1861 in the publications of John Stuart Mill. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “master class”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-S-T-E-R- -C-L-A-S-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list