oeuvre

/ˈœvrə/

Other forms: oeuvres

The oeuvre of a writer or artist refers to all their work combined. Writing one book isn't much of an oeuvre, but writing ten could be.

This is a French word often used by critics — people who comment on the work of writers, painters, musicians, and other artists. An oeuvre is the total output of an artist. Just like critics give a thumbs up or down to a single movie, they give opinions on oeuvres as well. You could say a band's current album stinks, but since they've made great music for 10 years, they still have an impressive oeuvre.

Definitions of oeuvre

1. noun

   the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
   “he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre”

   synonyms: body of work, work

   types:

   writing

   (usually plural) the collected work of an author

   canon

   the collection of works by a writer or artist that are considered to be authentic

   patristics, patrology

   the writings of the early Church Fathers

   type of:

   end product, output

   final product; the things produced