noun
competition entry; submitted work
Refers to a piece of work (art, writing, design, etc.) submitted to a contest, exhibition, or open call. Often used in formal or organizational contexts.
応募作品の中から最優秀賞が選ばれた。
The grand prize was selected from among the submitted works.
応募作品の締め切りは来週の金曜日です。
The deadline for competition entries is next Friday.
出品 is a broader term for exhibiting or submitting items (including non-competitive contexts), while 応募作品 specifically refers to works submitted in response to a call for entries.
Compound of 応募 (application, submission) and 作品 (work, piece). The exact historical derivation is straightforward from the component meanings.