Opus
noun /ˈəʊ.pəs/ — A musical composition numbered in a composer's works; any creative work.
Definition
A musical composition or set of compositions numbered as one of a composer's works. More broadly, a significant creative work of any kind. Plural: 'opera' (confusingly different from the musical form) or 'opuses'.
Beyond the definition
To number your work is to believe it is part of a larger body — that each piece matters in relationship to the whole. Every opus says: I am building something. This is a moment in something larger.
Origin & history
Latin: 'opus' (work). The same root gives us 'operation', 'operate', and paradoxically 'opera'. Composers began numbering works in the Baroque period for identification and publication.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Beethoven's Opus 131 string quartet is considered by many the greatest music ever written.
She referred to the novel as her current opus, half-seriously.
He filed each finished poem carefully — opus after opus in identical blue folders.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Opus” when the meaning fits your context: A musical composition or set of compositions numbered as one of a composer's works. More broadly, a significant creative work of any kind. Plural: 'opera' (confusingly different from the musical form) or 'opuses'.
Synonyms
work, composition, piece, creation
Antonyms
sketch, draft, fragment
Related words
Opus vs work
Work is a general term for any effort or production. Opus is used specifically for a creative, often substantial work, usually in music or literature.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Artist Working in Studio
An artist sits alone in a cluttered studio, hands stained with pigments, working on a painting detail.
The intense, focused labor on a single canvas represents an opus. It is the tangible manifestation of the artist's creative effort, serving as a significant work that encapsulates their passion and time.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Opus" mean?
Opus is noun meaning: A musical composition numbered in a composer's works; any creative work.. A musical composition or set of compositions numbered as one of a composer's works. More broadly, a significant creative work of any kind. Plural: 'opera' (confusingly different from the musical form) or 'opuses'.
Where does the word "Opus" come from?
Latin: 'opus' (work). The same root gives us 'operation', 'operate', and paradoxically 'opera'. Composers began numbering works in the Baroque period for identification and publication.