masterclass

/ˈmɑːstəklɑːs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmæstərklæs/ (ame, ipa)

masterclass — noun

  • masterclasssingular
  • masterclassesplural

1. a lesson or workshop led by a very skilled professional — such as a famous music

1.名詞B2
釋義

a lesson or workshop led by a very skilled professional — such as a famous musician, chef, or artist — aimed at students who already perform at a high level and want to develop further

例句

The piano masterclass at the Juilliard School lasted four hours and focused on Chopin's ballades.

masterclass + at [institution]; topic: focus on [composer/work]

Chef Fatima's two-hour masterclass on knife skills was fully booked within an hour of being announced.

masterclass + on [specific skill]

同義詞
  • workshop

    more hands-on and collaborative, usually less focused on a single expert's demonstration

  • seminar

    more academic and discussion-based, rather than skill-demonstration

  • tutorial

    one-on-one or very small group, with personalised guidance rather than a public lesson

文法句型

a masterclass + in [field/subject]

用法筆記

Often followed by 'on' + topic (a masterclass on French pastries) or 'in' + field (a masterclass in violin). The teacher is typically a famous or highly respected expert, and students are expected to already have strong basic skills.

常見錯誤

❌I took a masterclass course in cooking.
✅I took a masterclass in cooking.
💡'masterclass' already means a class; adding 'course' is redundant.
❌The school offers a masterclass for beginners.
✅The school offers a masterclass for advanced students.
💡A masterclass assumes students already have a high level of skill.

2. an event or performance that perfectly shows the right — or wrong — way to handl

2.名詞C1
釋義

an event or performance that perfectly shows the right — or wrong — way to handle a particular situation, leaving a strong lesson for everyone who sees it

例句

The CEO's handling of the crisis was a masterclass in staying calm under enormous pressure.

a masterclass in [gerund phrase] — positive example

The team's final goal in extra time was a masterclass in teamwork and precise passing.

同義詞
  • model

    suggests an ideal to be copied; less dramatic than masterclass

  • lesson

    broader and less emphatic — any instructive experience, not necessarily a spectacular one

  • textbook example

    informal phrase; implies the outcome is so perfect it could appear in a textbook

文法句型

a masterclass + in [activity/quality]

用法筆記

Always followed by 'in' + noun or gerund (a masterclass in diplomacy / in handling complaints). Can describe either an excellent or a terrible example — the surrounding context determines which. Common in journalism and criticism.

常見錯誤

❌Her speech was a masterclass.
✅Her speech was a masterclass in public speaking.
💡The figurative use requires 'in + [field/activity]' to show what was demonstrated.
❌The game was a masterclass of strategy.
✅The game was a masterclass in strategy.
💡Use 'in', not 'of', after 'masterclass.'