meistersinger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist, Historical, Literary, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “meistersinger” mean?
A member of a German guild of lyric poets, composers, and musicians, especially of the 14th–17th centuries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of a German guild of lyric poets, composers, and musicians, especially of the 14th–17th centuries.
By extension, someone who is a master or expert in their field, particularly in an artistic or creative endeavor. This use is figurative and less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both regions encounter the word primarily in historical or specialist contexts.
Connotations
Primarily historical and cultural, often associated with the opera by Richard Wagner, 'Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg'.
Frequency
Exceedingly rare in everyday speech in both regions. Slightly higher recognition in academic/musical circles.
Grammar
How to Use “meistersinger” in a Sentence
[Subject] was a Meistersinger of [Place/Time]The [adjective] Meistersinger [verb]In the style of a MeistersingerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meistersinger” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His writing had an almost Meistersinger-like attention to formal structure.
American English
- The guild maintained a Meistersinger tradition for centuries.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in history, musicology, and German studies to describe the specific guild system and its cultural output.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Might appear in a crossword puzzle or as an obscure reference.
Technical
Used in music history and opera studies, particularly in reference to Wagner's work.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meistersinger”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meistersinger”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meistersinger”
- Misspelling as 'meister singer' or 'meister-singer'.
- Incorrect pronunciation as /ˈmiːstər.../ instead of /ˈmaɪstər.../.
- Using it as a general synonym for any good singer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term borrowed from German, used mainly in historical, musical, or academic contexts.
Minnesingers were earlier (12th–14th century), aristocratic German lyric poets and singers of courtly love. Meistersingers were their later (14th–17th century), middle-class successors, organized into guilds with strict rules on composition.
It would be highly unusual and potentially confusing. The word carries strong historical and guild-related connotations. Using it figuratively for a modern musician would be a very deliberate, literary choice.
In English, it's commonly pronounced /ˈmaɪstərˌsɪŋər/ (MY-ster-sing-er), approximating the German 'Meister' (master) and 'Singer'.
A member of a German guild of lyric poets, composers, and musicians, especially of the 14th–17th centuries.
Meistersinger is usually specialist, historical, literary, figurative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MASTER SINGER'. A MEISTER-singer was a MASTER-level singer in a German guild.
Conceptual Metaphor
MASTERY IS A GUILD: Expertise is conceptualized as membership in an exclusive, rule-bound society of practitioners.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the word 'meistersinger'?