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

Instead, the exhibition aims to elevate Maier’s name to the level of other famous street photographers—such as Robert Frank and Diane Arbus—and take on the daunting task of examining her large oeuvre. —Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024

The billionaire developer’s shopping center oeuvre has deeply influenced the industry as a whole, leaving an indelible imprint on the Southern California lifestyle while also exporting it to the world. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2024

For now, there is no critical consensus on the high points or the low points in his enormous oeuvre, beyond agreement that the Black Paintings guarantee him a forever-place in art-history textbooks. —Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 5 May 2024

Playing her acoustic guitar, Clark was backed by a piano and cello for one of the most reflective songs in the Bon Jovi oeuvre. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2024

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