masterpiece

noun

mas·​ter·​piece ˈma-stər-ˌpēs How to pronounce masterpiece (audio)
1
: a work done with extraordinary skill
especially : a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement
2
: a piece of work presented to a medieval guild as evidence of qualification for the rank of master

Examples of masterpiece in a Sentence

The painting was immediately recognized as a masterpiece. Herman Melville's masterpiece was Moby-Dick. Her study of apes is a masterpiece.
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.
The period is a fascinating sliver of Springsteen’s biography, but the stakes of Deliver Me From Nowhere don’t hinge on whether Nebraska will resonate once it’s released; after all, moviegoers likely know its reputation as a rock masterpiece. David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025 So does the Morales house itself, which is the kind of minimalist glass masterpiece that makes everyone inside of it look even more transparent than the walls; the kind of place that could make any family seem like a horror film waiting to happen. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025 Greek tragedies, Roman philosophy, African American literature, global masterpieces—these are not dusty relics. MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 After all, Martin Scorsese is a living legend, a director who has produced masterpiece after masterpiece in a career that has spanned decades. Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for masterpiece

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of masterpiece was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Masterpiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masterpiece. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

masterpiece

noun
mas·​ter·​piece ˈmas-tər-ˌpēs How to pronounce masterpiece (audio)
: a work done with great skill
especially : a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement

More from Merriam-Webster on masterpiece

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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