Phrase guide

pièce de résistance

noun · 2 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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  • /piˈɛs də ɹəˈzɪs.tɑ̃s/
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1

noun

Meaning 1

A masterpiece; the most memorable accomplishment of one’s career or lifetime.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: magnum opus, masterpiece

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The chief dish at a dinner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French pièce de résistance; the first use of this phrase in English appears in 1789 in Richard Cumberland's novel Arundel.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: pièce de résistance — masterpiece
  • Dutch: magnum opus — masterpiece
  • Dutch: meesterwerk — masterpiece
  • Dutch: levenswerk — masterpiece
  • French: pièce de résistance — masterpiece
  • German: Pièce de résistance — masterpiece
  • Italian: capolavoro — masterpiece
  • Latin: magnum opus — masterpiece
  • Māori: mounga — masterpiece
  • Polish: gwóźdź programu — masterpiece
  • Portuguese: obra prima — masterpiece
  • Spanish: obra maestra — masterpiece