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

And yet, Allen’s oeuvre never crosses over into the distressing, monstrous or shocking. —Nina-Sophia Miralles, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

Their initial encounter is soured by Oliver, who teaches literature at a university, calling his great great great great aunt’s oeuvre overrated and limited in scope. —Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025

Born in Kano, Nigeria, and now based in Antwerp, Belgium, the multidisciplinary artist has spent decades constructing an expansive and dynamic oeuvre that resists easy categorization. —Okla Jones, Essence, 3 May 2025

Working with female role models has always been crucial to Manners’ oeuvre. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 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