Les Misérables

American  

[ley mee-zey-ra-bl^uh] / leɪ mi zeɪˈra blə /

noun

1. a novel (1862) by Victor Hugo.

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Les Misérables Cultural  

1. (1862) A novel by Victor Hugo. The central character, Jean Valjean, is sentenced to prison for stealing a single loaf of bread. Later, seeking respectability, Valjean is hounded by his archenemy, Inspector Javert.

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The broad canvas of Hugo's novel has been adapted for numerous films and a long-running Broadway (see also Broadway) musical (usually known as Les Miz).

Example Sentences

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Les Misérables

But his wish list of non-woke repertory, which also included Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, draws on an attachment that predates his entry into national politics: Broadway musicals.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

The role that propelled her to fame - Eponine in Les Misérables - was only possible because she was able to skip the audition process entirely.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

In the current Singapore run of Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular, Salonga is performing alongside Nathania Ong who plays Eponine - the exact role Salonga made possible for other Asian actors to play.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

Gilroy set to work meticulously highlighting the Maine-area colloquialisms and metaphors and building out Detective Mackey as a Javert-type villain, echoing the relentless inspector in Victor Hugo’s "Les Misérables."

From Salon ● Mar. 23, 2025

I’m learning a lot about the similarities between the musicals Les Misérables and Hamilton.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty