work of art

American  

noun

1. a piece of creative work in the arts, especially a painting or sculpture.

2. a product that gives aesthetic pleasure and that can be judged separately from any utilitarian considerations.

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work of art British  

noun

1. a piece of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture

2. something that may be likened to a piece of fine art, esp in beauty, intricacy, etc

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Etymology

Origin of work of art

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The theft deeply embarrassed the French establishment and called into question the government’s oversight of the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum and the guardian of many of the world’s most precious works of art.

From The Wall Street Journal

The same cannot be said of the wonderful automotive works of art at the Savoy Automobile Museum.

From The Wall Street Journal

Brown told me commissioning beautiful works of art for the public to enjoy used to be part of civic life.

From BBC

You can go to the jazz concerts, go see dozens of masterpieces outdoors... you can go inside somewhere and really focus quietly on a single work of art,” Govan said.

From Los Angeles Times

He held up the innocent-looking egg, gazing at it like it was a work of art.

From Literature

Related Words

• artwork
• composition
• piece