Other forms: masterpieces
A masterpiece is an artist's greatest work — the one the whole world remembers. An undisputed masterpiece, his masterpiece, a minor masterpiece.
The word had a technical meaning first: the piece a craftsman made to prove they were fit to be a master of their guild, judged by the other masters. So a masterpiece was originally a qualification. It came into English from Dutch and German.
1nounmasterpieceAn artist's greatest work.
“Many people think the Mona Lisa is Leonardo's greatest masterpiece.”
masterpiece is a work of art.
A translation of Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstuck, the piece a craftsman made to qualify as a master of the guild.
German
Meisterstück — masterpiece
Dutch
meesterstuk
English, today
masterpiece
From master + piece, a Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück (“masterpiece”). maestropiece. Compare also journeyman's piece.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Music, Art & Culture