magnum
Americannoun
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a large wine bottle having a capacity of two ordinary bottles or 1.5 liters (1.6 quarts).
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a magnum cartridge or firearm.
adjective
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(of a cartridge) equipped with a larger charge than other cartridges of the same size.
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(of a firearm) using such a cartridge.
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Informal. unusually great in power or size.
a magnum spotlight; a magnum dosage.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of magnum
1780–90; < Latin, neuter of magnus large; in reference to firearms, originally used as a trademark by the Smith and Wesson Co.
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:
In 1962, Macdonald published his magnum opus of cultural criticism, “Against the American Grain: Essays on the Effects of Mass Culture,” containing the most famous of his essays, “Masscult & Midcult.”
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026
He was carrying 743 rounds of ammunition and four handguns – two 9mm Browning semi-automatic pistols and two Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolvers.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026
After inspecting a gifted magnum of Chinese wine, he stressed that the country "knew how to produce" -- another worry for French producers.
From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026
Indeed, you don’t need to have a party to enjoy a magnum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025
“I don’t know what a magnum opus is,” said Wilbur.
From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
This was the cheapest of all the magnums I purchased—and the wine that inspired my friend’s joyful words.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025
The Coravin Sparkling aims to do the same for your tete de cuvee vintage champagne in regular bottles or magnums.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 18, 2021
Bid on one-of-a-kind bottles pulled from the AWW cellar, as well as from verticals donated by wineries and magnums made for a party.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2021
Large groups guzzled magnums of rosé on canopied daybeds, and lines for the bathroom could take half an hour, a nuisance to hotel guests, who sometimes paid four figures a night for a room.
From New York Times ● May 29, 2021
A lot of small politicians followed us, expectin' to see magnums of champagne opened.
From Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: a series of very plain talks on very practical politics, delivered by ex-Senator George Washington Plunkitt, the Tammany philosopher, from his rostrum—the New York County court house bootblack stand; Recorded by William L. Riordon by Plunkitt, George Washington
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.
