work of art
Americannoun
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a piece of creative work in the arts, especially a painting or sculpture.
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a product that gives aesthetic pleasure and that can be judged separately from any utilitarian considerations.
noun
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a piece of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture
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something that may be likened to a piece of fine art, esp in beauty, intricacy, etc
Etymology
Origin of work of art
First recorded in 1825–35
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.
But it’s not ‘personal’ to analyze a film or other work of art, even negatively.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
But McElwee’s nonlinear construction and brusque, confessional narration slowly transform the film into something much deeper, a poignant work of art that instantly yet subtly aligns itself with the great stories of our time.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
"This is really about bringing two countries with this incredible showcase together to collaborate," Cullinan said, acknowledging the role of the tapestry as a "supreme work of art within French culture".
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
"Everyone here is a work of art," sings Madonna as she travels back in time.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
Looked at another way, it is a work of art, an expression of the human spirit, with its unbounded hunger for the ideal, for beauty, for purity, for grace.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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.
