masterpiece
Americannoun
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a person's greatest piece of work, as in an art.
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anything done with masterly skill.
a masterpiece of improvisation.
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a consummate example of skill or excellence of any kind.
The chef 's cake was a masterpiece.
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a piece made by a person aspiring to the rank of master in a guild or other craft organization as a proof of competence.
noun
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an outstanding work, achievement, or performance
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the most outstanding piece of work of a creative artist, craftsman, etc
Etymology
Origin of masterpiece
1570–80; master + piece, modeled on Dutch meesterstuk, German Meisterstück
Explanation
Many people have to agree that a painting or a novel is wonderful, and they usually need to feel that way for years, in order for it to be considered a true masterpiece. An artist or writer is generally capable of creating only one masterpiece in her lifetime, if she makes a masterpiece at all. When an art historian or English teacher uses it, the word masterpiece implies a truly sublime, amazing creation. You can also describe something that's simply great as a masterpiece, like the seven-layer chocolate cake your mom baked for your birthday. Masterpiece comes from the Dutch meesterstuk, "work by which a craftsman attains the rank of master."
Vocabulary lists containing masterpiece
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rudin was not present at Sunday's ceremony, and the production's trophy for best play revival was accepted by actor Nathan Lane, who paid tribute to "the genius of Arthur Miller, who created this monumental masterpiece".
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
That message sang me to sleep on many nights, and that story explains why it’s stayed with me all this time — it is a masterpiece of melodic sorcery and science, as one.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
Samuel Beckett’s absurdist masterpiece, Waiting for Godot, tells the story of two friends who gather next to a barren tree, hoping to meet a man who never actually arrives.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
He repeatedly mentions the wild cats in his masterpiece, “Don Quixote.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
You’d think he was handling a million-dollar masterpiece the way he took his time placing it just so.
From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
