magnum opus

noun

mag·num opus ˈmag-nəm-ˈō-pəs

Synonyms of magnum opus next

: a great work

especially : the greatest achievement of an artist or writer

Did you know?

You may recognize magnum (meaning "great") as a Latin word that shows up in altered forms in several English words, and perhaps you can also come up with a few words that are related to opus ("work"). Magnitude, magnanimous, opulent, and operate are some obvious relations of the two. Magnum opus, which entered English in the 18th century, retains the original Latin spelling and the literal meaning "great work." Although the term most often refers to literary, musical, or artistic productions, it has been used to describe many kinds of great works, including games, construction projects, and even surgical techniques.

Examples of magnum opus in a Sentence

His last novel was his magnum opus. this symphony is usually considered Beethoven's magnum opus

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

There was a growing feeling throughout 2014 that Nolan’s magnum opus might be the one to finally go the distance. —

Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024 More than a year into its release, Larian Studios continues to improve its magnum opus, Baldur's Gate 3. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 That comment was two hours before Sunday’s win, a magnum opus that nobody, including Jokic himself, had ever paralleled. —

Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024 Every era requires a defining victory and Aston Villa’s magnum opus under Unai Emery, so far anyway, came at home against Manchester City last season. —

Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for magnum opus