oeuvre

noun

oeu·​vre ˈu̇-vrə 

ˈər-,

ˈə-,

ˈœ- 

plural oeuvres ˈu̇-vrə 

ˈə(r)-,

ˈœ- 

: a substantial body of work constituting the lifework of a writer, an artist, or a composer

a catalogue of Rembrandt's oeuvre

scrupulously examines Dickens' oeuvre in order to demonstrate how his convictions helped to determine the shape of his novels

—G. J. Worth

Synonyms

• corpus

Examples of oeuvre in a Sentence

a novel that occupies a relatively minor position in the author's oeuvre

Recent Examples on the Web

In this version, adapted from the London run’s extended one, Bernadette is the primary close collaborator with Sondheim onstage, occupying a position between ambassador to his oeuvre, high priestess of song, and family member in mourning. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025

The French emperor is a looming figure in Scott’s oeuvre. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2025

Murphy’s oeuvre has revolutionized the study of natural history’s entanglements with slavery. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2025

But the famous painting is only a small piece of the Norwegian artist’s oeuvre, which includes thousands of other works. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "work," going back to Old French ovre, going back to Latin opera "activity, effort, attention, work," collective derivative from oper-, opus "work, effort, product of labor" — more at opus

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oeuvre

• louvre