# opus

/ˈoʊpəs/ (US) · /ˈɒpəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/opus
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a major work of art, music, or literature. It is often used to describe a very important or large project that a creator has finished.

For teachers: a creative work, especially a musical composition or a literary production, numbered to indicate the order of a composer's works. Often refers to a large-scale or significant achievement within an artist's career.

## Examples

- This symphony is considered the composer's greatest opus.
- After ten years of research, the professor finally published his historical opus on the industrial revolution.
- While his early sketches showed promise, it was this sprawling, three-volume opus that secured his reputation as the preeminent novelist of his generation.

## Usage notes

- The plural form can be 'opuses' or the Latin 'opera'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.