What does quizmaster mean?
A quizmaster is a person who leads or supervises a quiz, asking questions, announcing categories, and managing contestants or participants. The word is especially familiar from television game shows and public quiz competitions, where the quizmaster creates suspense and ensures that the contest follows its rules. In a broader or more figurative use, it can describe someone who questions, examines, or challenges another person. While the standard spelling is a single word, the expression is closely related to the traditional two-word form question master, and both are understood in British and American English. The word combines quiz, referring to a set of questions or the activity of answering them, with master, conveying control or authority.
nounA person who asks questions and supervises a quiz, especially in a game show, quiz competition, or educational event. The term can also refer to someone who tests or questions another person.
- A person who asks and manages the questions in a quiz or competition.
- A person who questions, examines, or puts another person on the spot.
"The quizmaster read the final question while the contestants waited in suspense."
"The quizmaster announced the category before turning to the contestant."
"His relentless questioning earned him a reputation as a formidable quizmaster."
The plural is quizmasters.
"Several quizmasters shared duties across the national competition."
Quizmaster combines the act of asking questions with the authority of a master, a name that has become part of the vocabulary of television quizzes and public competitions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quizmaster come from?
Quizmaster is a compound formed from quiz and master. The word quiz is attested from the early 19th century, although its precise origin is uncertain; it is often connected with a question or a set of questions. Master is an old English term for someone who has authority or control, especially in teaching or supervision. The compound quizmaster became established in the context of public quizzes and later in broadcasting and entertainment.
How quizmaster is actually used
The term is common in British and American English, especially in connection with quizzes, game shows, and competitions. It is usually neutral or mildly traditional in tone; in the second sense, it can suggest rigorous or persistent questioning.