magnum opus

noun

ˈmag-nəm-ˈō-pəs How to pronounce magnum opus (audio)
Definition of magnum opusnext
as in masterpiece
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement this symphony is usually considered Beethoven's magnum opus

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of magnum opus In his 1801 magnum opus Disquisitiones Arithmeticae, German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss wrote about a cyclical mystery. — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026 Now regarded as Paul Simon’s magnum opus, Graceland turns 40 this month—a fitting excuse for AIR MAIL to revisit it. — Air Mail, 1 Aug. 2026 And Kansas City’s 5-1 rout of Louisville Racing FC on Wednesday night may be the team’s magnum opus. — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026 Smith was already at Primavera to play — The Cure headlined the festival on Friday, their first show since their 2024 magnum opus Songs of a Lost World, one of their best albums ever. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magnum opus
masterpiece
Noun
  • An architectural masterpiece, Boston Public Library’s central branch and its neighbor Copley Square are priority stops on any trip to Boston.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Even for a famous masterpiece, the Bayeux Tapestry exerts an unusually powerful hold over the professionals who work with it.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of masterpiece

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“Magnum opus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magnum%20opus. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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