# grandmaster

/ˈɡɹænˈmæstɝ/ (US) · /ɡɹˈændmɑːstɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grandmaster
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

the highest level of skill a person can reach in a game or sport, especially in chess. It is a title given to players who have proven they are among the best in the world.

For teachers: the highest title awarded to a chess player by the world chess organization, FIDE, representing a level of skill achieved by only a small percentage of players. It can also refer to the head of certain military or fraternal orders.

## Examples

- He became a grandmaster at the age of fourteen.
- After winning the international tournament, she finally earned the third norm required to be officially recognized as a grandmaster.
- The grandmaster analyzed the endgame with such speed that the spectators struggled to follow the tactical implications of his knight sacrifice.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a title before a name, such as Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.