magnum opus
/ˌmæɡnəm ˈəʊpəs/
"magnum-opus" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“magnum opus” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 11
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A great or important work of literature, music or art, a masterpiece.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | magnum opus |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˌmæɡnəm ˈəʊpəs/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “magnum opus” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for magnum opus is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌmæɡnəm ˈəʊpəs/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
No misspelling variants are generated for magnum opus in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin magnum opus (“great work”). The correct English form is magnum opus, spelled M-A-G-N-U-M- -O-P-U-S.
Definition
- 1A great or important work of literature, music or art, a masterpiece.
- 2The best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author or artist, representing their major life effort.
- 3The process of working with the prima materia to create the philosopher's stone.
Etymology
From Latin magnum opus (“great work”).
Synonyms
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "magnum opus"?
What does "magnum opus" mean?
How do you pronounce "magnum opus"?
What is the origin of the word "magnum opus"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “magnum opus”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is M-A-G-N-U-M- -O-P-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌmæɡnəm ˈəʊpəs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.