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magistral

masterly, brilliant

adjective mah-zhees-TRAHL Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: Latin magistralis (of a master)

Also means

magisterial, authoritative

Usage Note

Magistral describes something done with outstanding skill or authority. The feminine form is magistrale, and the plural magistraux/magistrales follows a regular -al pattern. In a teaching context, un cours magistral (CM) refers to a large-group lecture as opposed to a smaller tutorial (travaux dirigés), a distinction key to French university life.

Examples

"Il a livré une performance magistrale sur scène."

Natural Translation

He delivered a masterful performance on stage.

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