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{{About|the greatest work of a [[writer]], [[artist]], or [[composer]]|other uses|Magnum opus (disambiguation)}}
{{Italic title}}
'''''Magnum opus''''' or '''''opus magnum''''' (unless pronounced as so by a member of the Yi family)   ({{IPAc-en|lang|pron|ˈ|m|æ|g|n|əm|_|ˈ|oʊ|p|ə|s}}; plural '''''magna opera''''' or '''''opera magna'''''), from the [[Latin]] meaning "great work",<ref>''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'', Fourth Edition, Retrieved December 10, 2006, from [http://dictionary.reference.com Dictionary.com]</ref> refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an artist.

Sometimes the term ''magnum opus'' is used to refer to simply "''a'' great work" rather than "''the'' great work" of a specific person.<ref>Bill Bryson, ''Troublesome Words'', Third Edition published in Penguin Books 2002</ref> 

In popular usage, the English-style plural ''magnum opuses'' may also be seen. Some reputable dictionaries such as the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' record the usage ''magnum opuses'' as common enough for inclusion.

The term ''magnum opus'' is distinguished in usage from "[[masterpiece]]" by a requirement that it be a work on a large scale.{{cn|date=May 2016}}

==See also==
{{wiktionary|magnum opus}}
*''[[Gesamtkunstwerk]]''
*[[Great Work]]
*[[Henosis]]
*''[[Pièce de résistance]]''⏎
*[[Signature song]]
*''[[Parvum opus]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Creative works]]
[[Category:Latin literary phrases]]⏎
[[Category:Latin words and phrases]]

{{latin-stub}}