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.

At the time of Interstellar’s release, critics and fans were quick to draw comparisons between Nolan’s sci-fi epic and Kubrick’s magnum opus. —

Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025 The filmmaker returned to Cannes in 2001 with Mulholland Drive, a multilayered, surreal drama about Hollywood that many consider Lynch’s magnum opus. —

Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025 Cindy Lee: Diamond Jubilee The 32-track magnum opus from the glamorous alter-ego of Canadian musician Patrick Flegel hit the scene like some old movie where a mysterious drifter shows up with their guitar to breathe new life into a sleepy town. —

Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024 Just a few days after losing the magnum opus of his career, Pol told his story to Allure. —

Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for magnum opus