magnanimity
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of magnanimity
1300–50; Middle English magnanimite < Latin magnanimitās. See magnanimous, -ity
Explanation
Magnanimous behavior is noble, generous, or unselfish, and to exhibit magnanimity is to be this way. He showed great magnanimity in not pressing charges when I drove his car into the pond. "Accidents happen my friend," he said, and patted me on the back. In Latin, magnus means "great": a magnate is a great man; a magnum is a great big bottle of champagne. Magnanimity is the generous greatness of spirit. When you are being the bigger person, you are behaving with magnanimity. "The supermodel grabbed the magnum of champagne, lifted it to her mouth and drained the bottle. With great magnanimity, her host smiled and offered her another."
Vocabulary lists containing magnanimity
The Declaration of Independence
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Speak Your Mind: Anim
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Brave New World
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Thomas Aquinas named it magnanimity, the stretching of the soul toward great things.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
But the federal government’s magnanimity did not end there.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2026
He dealt with the disappointment with magnanimity and played on.
From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026
In times of true crisis, magnanimity is the privilege of those happy collaborators who are secure in the belief that they will be OK no matter what.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2024
The end explanation that he had “given her up” so as to save his soul, and that he had now returned horn a sense of dramatic magnanimity, was not the true one.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
The magnanimities of the Anglo-Saxon races are rising to greet one another.
From Out To Win The Story of America in France by Dawson, Coningsby
"The new order won't be brought about by idle optimism any more than by prayers, or politics, or private magnanimities."
From The Open Question a tale of two temperaments by Robins, Elizabeth
In me divine magnanimities are spontaneous and instantaneous—catch them while you can.
From Memories of Hawthorne by Lathrop, Rose Hawthorne
Struggle with new magnanimities as she would, jealousy was native to Kitty, and jealousy has sharp eyes.
From The Story of Louie by Onions, Oliver [pseud.]
Here at last has a Lover of Philosophy got upon the throne, and great philanthropies and magnanimities are to be expected, think rash editors and idle mankind.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 11 by Carlyle, Thomas
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.
