Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🗡️ Without an owner 🖧 No central control
masterless

masterless

7.4
A computer system with no single main server so every computer can accept data changes
  • adjective
  • /ˈmæstərləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sin servidor central
  • The new database runs in masterless mode, allowing any node to accept write requests without a single controller.

Examples

  • They chose a masterless architecture to avoid a single point of failure in production.

  • In a masterless system, every node has equal authority.

  • During the workshop, we deployed a masterless cluster that used consensus to coordinate nodes.

  • The new software operates in a masterless environment.

  • In a masterless network, every device can communicate directly with one another, ensuring greater efficiency.

  • The team opted for a masterless setup, which allowed for better reliability as no single node held power over the others.

  • By implementing a masterless architecture, the system improved its resilience against server failures.

Synonyms

leaderless
vsmasterless
7 5.1

Without a person in charge of a group or team

refers to technical systems designed without a single controlling server or node
hostless
vsmasterless
  • Specialized
6.8

Not needing a central server to work

emphasizes peer to peer design so no node has exclusive control
centerless
vsmasterless
  • US
7.2

No single leader or main group controls decisions, leaving power with local groups

applies to distributed computing where no server or node has exclusive control

Antonyms

hierarchical
36 6.7

Placed in levels with some people having more power than others

centralized
  • US
9 4.4

One main authority manages things from one place

How Centralized

centralized
  • US
9 4.4
peer-to-peer
  • Specialized
5 4.4
masterless
  • Specialized
7.4

Surface Forms

masterless positive

Morphology

masterless = master (semi-transparent) = master + less

Morphologically transparent as 'without a master', but the sense is a technical extension in computing (decentralized/peer-to-peer), which may be less obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Masterless comes from master ('a person in charge') and -less ('without'), so it literally means 'without a master'. In computing, it describes a system with no single central controller, like a team where every computer shares control so no one machine rules.