munificence

American  

[myoo-nif-uh-suhns] / mjuˈnɪf ə səns /

Sometimes munificentness

noun

1. the quality of being munificent, or showing unusual generosity.

   The museum's collection was greatly increased by the munificence of the family's gift.

---

Etymology

Origin of munificence

First recorded in 1400–50; from Middle French, from Latin mūnificentia; see munificent ( def. )

---

Explanation

Munificence is the quality of being extremely generous, like showering your girlfriend with lots of expensive gifts and candy on Valentine's Day. Munificence comes from the Latin word, munificentia, which literally means "present-making." Santa Claus shows great munificence every year by bringing presents to children, even if sometimes they've been naughty. Munificence can refer to any kind of generosity or ease in giving. A millionaire who donates time and money to help support the less fortunate shows munificence. Of course, munificence is easy for those with millions!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

munificence

Since I lack direct access to the president’s munificence, my shoes came instead from a men’s clothing store near where I live in Boston.

From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026

By then, L.A. was preening itself over movies’ magnificence and munificence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2021

Needless to say, such state-ordained munificence is in any case not the ideal system of incentives.

From Economist ● Jul. 12, 2018

Trading services for goods is an anachronism, a barter system borne out of one party’s poverty and the other’s munificence.

From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2018

But despite this apparent munificence, the meat he’d been killing was very lean, and he was consuming fewer calories than he was burning.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---