magnum opus
noun
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
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 July 2025
Sueño Stereo, released on June 21, 1995, became the band’s magnum opus.
—Delfina Marchese, Billboard, 19 June 2025
Brian promised this magnum opus would top his ultimate rivals, the Beatles; he was shattered when the Fabs beat him into stores with Sgt. Pepper.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
One highlight of the show, which will be on view through August 2, is his magnum opus: 9.11.01.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Cite this Entry
“Magnum opus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnum%20opus. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
magnum opus
noun
Share