sumptuous
Americanadjective
-
entailing great expense, as from choice materials, fine work, etc.; costly.
a sumptuous residence.
-
luxuriously fine or large; lavish; splendid.
a sumptuous feast.
- Synonyms:
- munificent, luxurious, magnificent
adjective
-
expensive or extravagant
sumptuous costumes
-
magnificent; splendid
a sumptuous scene
Other Word Forms
- sumptuously adverb
- sumptuousness noun
- unsumptuous adjective
- unsumptuously adverb
- unsumptuousness noun
Etymology
Origin of sumptuous
1475–85; < Latin sūmptuōsus, equivalent to sūmptu ( s ) expense ( see sumptuary) + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Sumptuous could be used to describe a room appointed with the finest furniture, a lush orchestra playing a beautiful symphony, or a meal meant for a king. Sumptuous describes something that costs a lot and imparts sensory pleasure. Sumptuous comes from the Latin sumptus, which means "expensive." Sumptus is related to sumere, which means "to consume." The word sumptuous carries both meanings with it. It is a pricey, luxurious thing that's meant to be consumed or enjoyed. You wouldn't use sumptuous to describe a tractor, even if it has leather seats.
Vocabulary lists containing sumptuous
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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.
After bouncing Rory Hutchinson earlier in the game, Carre stretched and produced a sumptuous soft-hand sky-hook offload out of contact to set Nick Tomkins running.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
Horsfield’s version shows the kind of sumptuous cage many aspire to live in, revealing why some people prefer to remain lavishly trapped, and others rattle the bars, hoping for escape.
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026
The play, a sumptuous historical pastiche, is both an invitation and a daunting challenge to theater makers.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026
The feature had aimed "to create a sumptuous and resplendent atmosphere", the hotel's parent company said in a filing Wednesday.
From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026
Until midnight the strangers, disguised as bedouins, took part in the delirium and even enriched it with sumptuous fireworks and acrobatic skills that made one think of the art of the gypsies.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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.
