Other forms: masterminds
A mastermind is the person who plans and directs a complex scheme. The mastermind behind the robbery, a criminal mastermind, mastermind the operation.
It is used far more of criminals than of anybody else, and criminal mastermind is nearly a fixed phrase, largely from fiction. As a verb it means to plan and direct, and it is neutral: somebody can mastermind a campaign or a rescue.
1nounmastermindThe person who plans and directs a complex scheme.
“Police believe the mastermind of the robbery planned it from abroad.”
mastermind is a person.
Master plus mind, from the early twentieth century.
From master + mind.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA