pitmaster
noun
pit·mas·ter
ˈpit-ˌma-stər 
variants
or pit master
plural pitmasters or pit masters
: a person who oversees the cooking done in a barbecue pit : a professional or skilled barbecuer
"This is good, really good," Allan says, tasting pitmaster Scott Smith's first cured pork belly. "I wouldn't change a thing."—
John T. Edge
John T. EdgeHe was one of Houston's most celebrated pitmasters and helped to kick off the barbecue renaissance here.—J. C. Reid
J. C. ReidRobert Polk, the pit master I met earlier this morning, comes in carrying a gorgeous brisket fresh from the smoker and hands it off to Smitty, who starts slicing it to make sandwiches and plates.—Patricia Sharpe
Patricia SharpeExamples of pitmaster in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the prolific author and pitmaster, fire is universal, cutting across borders, traditions and trends.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Detectives continue to look for leads in a fatal hit-and-run crash over the weekend on Kansas City’s East Side that killed a 60-year-old pitmaster for Gates Bar-B-Q, a police spokesman said Thursday.
—Robert A. Cronkleton
march 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Three more Maryland restaurants and a local pitmaster were named semifinalists in this year’s RAMMY Awards, highlighting the region’s growing fast-casual and barbecue scenes.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
An upcoming not-for-profit barbecue and music festival called Syndicate Smokedown & Music Festival on April 18, 2026, will bring two-dozen pitmasters to Fort Worth for an evening headlined by country-rock band Whiskey Myers.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pitmaster
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Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Detectives continue to look for leads in a fatal hit-and-run crash over the weekend on Kansas City’s East Side that killed a 60-year-old pitmaster for Gates Bar-B-Q, a police spokesman said Thursday.
—Robert A. Cronkleton
march 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Three more Maryland restaurants and a local pitmaster were named semifinalists in this year’s RAMMY Awards, highlighting the region’s growing fast-casual and barbecue scenes.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
An upcoming not-for-profit barbecue and music festival called Syndicate Smokedown & Music Festival on April 18, 2026, will bring two-dozen pitmasters to Fort Worth for an evening headlined by country-rock band Whiskey Myers.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pitmaster
Cite this Entry
“Pitmaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitmaster. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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