noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:măg'nəm ōʹpəs
Received-Pronunciation:/ˌmæɡnəm ˈəʊpəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:măg'nəm ōʹpəs
US:/ˌmæɡnəm ˈoʊpəs/
1
noun
Meaning 1
A great or important work of literature, music or art, a masterpiece.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author or artist, representing their major life effort.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four is widely considered to be George Orwell's magnum opus.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The process of working with the prima materia to create the philosopher's stone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: alchemy, pseudoscience
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
a great work of art or literature
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: work of art
History
Etymology
From Latin magnum opus (“great work”).
Across languages
Translations
38 source translations are retained for this English entry.
