Meanings
nounmagnum opus (plural magna opera or magnum opuses)
plural magna opera · plural magnum opuses
- A great or important work of literature, music or art, a masterpiece.
Synonyms: masterpiece, great work, opus magnum, crowning achievement
- alchemyThe process of working with the prima materia to create the philosopher's stone.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA great or important work of literature, music or art, a masterpiece.
Similar
Origin
- Latinmagnum opus“great work”
- Englishmagnum opus
From Latin magnum opus (“great work”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Danish mesterværk
- mesterværkmasterpiece
Dutch meesterwerk
- meesterwerkmasterpiece
Esperanto majstroverko, majstroverko
- majstroverkomasterpiece
- majstroverkothe greatest work of an author or artist
Finnish mestariteos, suurteos
- mestariteosmasterpiece
- suurteosmasterpiece
- pääteosthe greatest work of an author or artist
French magnum opus, grand œuvre
- magnum opusthe greatest work of an author or artist
- grand œuvrethe greatest work of an author or artist
German Meisterwerk
- Meisterwerkmasterpiece
Hindi शाहकार, शहकार
- शाहकार (śāhkār)masterpiece
- शहकार (śahkār)masterpiece
- शाहपारा (śāhpārā)masterpiece
- शहपारा (śahpārā)masterpiece
- शाहकार (śāhkār)the greatest work of an author or artist
- शहकार (śahkār)the greatest work of an author or artist
- शाहपारा (śāhpārā)the greatest work of an author or artist
- शहपारा (śahpārā)the greatest work of an author or artist
Indonesian mahakarya, adikarya
- mahakaryamasterpiece
- adikaryamasterpiece
Irish ardsaothar, ardsaothar
- ardsaotharmasterpiece
- ardsaotharthe greatest work of an author or artist
Italian capolavoro
- capolavoromasterpiece
Japanese 代表作, 畢生の大作
- 代表作 (daihyōsaku)masterpiece
- 畢生の大作 (hissei no taisaku)the greatest work of an author or artist
Polish magnum opus, opus magnum
- magnum opusmasterpiece
- opus magnummasterpiece
- magnum opusthe greatest work of an author or artist
- opus magnumthe greatest work of an author or artist
Portuguese obra prima
- obra primamasterpiece
Russian шедевр
- шедевр (šedevr)masterpiece
Spanish obra maestra
- obra maestramasterpiece
Swedish magnum opus, magnum opus
- magnum opusmasterpiece
- magnum opusthe greatest work of an author or artist
Thai ผลงานชิ้นเอก, ผลงานชิ้นเอก
- ผลงานชิ้นเอก (pǒn-ngāan-chín-èek)masterpiece
- ผลงานชิ้นเอก (pǒn-ngāan-chín-èek)the greatest work of an author or artist
Cite this entry
APA
magnum opus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnum%20opus
MLA
“magnum opus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnum%20opus. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “magnum opus,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnum%20opus.
Source: magnum opus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.