Skip to main content
nonmastery

nonmastery

8.1
A lack of full understanding or skill in a subject
  • noun
  • /nɒnˈmæstəri/
translation icon : falta de dominio
  • Her nonmastery of the subject was evident in the way she struggled on the exam.

Examples

  • He recognized his nonmastery of the skills needed for the job and decided to take a course.

  • Forty-eight percent of those seniors judged as nonmastery on KIRIS Math scored at the mean or above on the ACT Math test.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Yet the 1996 sample is closer to what might be anticipated, with only three percent of each group being nonmastery.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Eighty-nine percent of those seniors judged as nonmastery on KIRIS Science scored at the mean or above on the ACT Science test.

    Academic text (2000)
  • In their sample, 52 percent of high school seniors judged as nonmastery on KIRIS Reading scored at the mean or above on the ACT Reading test.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Forty-four and 70 percent, respectively, of the 1995 National Merit Scholars and Commended were judged nonmastery in math by KIRIS.

    Academic text (2000)
  • On the 1996 KIRIS Reading tests, 44 and 56 percent, respectively, of National Merit Scholars and Commended were judged nonmastery by KIRIS.

    Academic text (2000)
  • On the 1995 KIRIS Reading tests, 47 and 73 percent, respectively, of National Merit Scholars and Commended were judged nonmastery by KIRIS.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Fiction is aimed, more or less, at guaranteeing my possession or mastery of the world; this the documentary acknowledges as beyond its means, precisely insofar as in this nonmastery, which is the condition of invention, the real power of this world bursts forth, unbreached.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Many students experience nonmastery when they first learn complex math concepts.

Synonyms

inexperience
vsnonmastery
24 4.0

Not having enough skill or knowledge when doing something new

describes lacking full knowledge or skill independent of experience cause
ineptness
vsnonmastery
3 6.4

Lack of skill that makes someone do things badly

is about lacking full knowledge or ability rather than clumsy action
nonproficiency
vsnonmastery
7.9

Not enough skill to do something well

emphasizes incomplete knowledge rather than formal standards
skillessness
vsnonmastery
8.9

A lack of ability to do something well

focuses on incomplete skill and understanding rather than mere incompetence
unskillfulness
vsnonmastery
6.6

A state of not being good at doing something

covers broader incomplete knowledge and understanding beyond mere skill

Antonyms

37 4.2

Very high skill in a subject or activity

How Skilled

mastery
37 4.2
expertise
302 4.9
competence
69 4.1
nonmastery
8.1
incompetence
92 4.4

Surface Forms

nonmastery singular
nonmasteries plural

Morphology

nonmastery = mastery (transparent) = non + master + y

The meaning is a straightforward negation: 'non-' (not) + 'mastery' (skill), yielding 'lack of mastery'.

Etymology

The word nonmastery is made from the part non- meaning 'not' and mastery meaning being a 'master' or having full skill, so nonmastery is 'not being a master' of something. That's why it means lacking complete knowledge or skill.