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definitions

munificent

[myoo-nif-uh-suhnt]
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adjective
  1. extremely liberal in giving; very generous.
  2. characterized by great generosity: a munificent bequest.

Origin of munificent

1575–85; back formation from Latin mūnificentia generosity, munificence, equivalent to mūnific(us) generous (muni-, combining form of mūnus gift + -ficus -fic) + -entia -ence
Related formsmu·nif·i·cence, mu·nif·i·cent·ness, nounmu·nif·i·cent·ly, adverbun·mu·nif·i·cent, adjectiveun·mu·nif·i·cent·ly, adverb
Can be confusedbeneficent munificentmagnificent munificent

Synonyms for munificent

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1. bountiful, bounteous, lavish.

Synonym study

1. See generous.

Antonyms for munificent

1. niggardly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for munificent

beneficent, benevolent, big, big-hearted, bountiful, charitable, free, handsome, kind, lavish, liberal, loose, magnanimous, openhanded, philanthropic, rich, unsparing, bounteous, unstinting

Examples from the Web for munificent

Contemporary Examples of munificent

Historical Examples of munificent

  • I paid him over the munificent sum you intrusted to me for him.

    Victor's Triumph

    Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth

  • Joe disposed of that consideration by a munificent wave of the hand.

    David Dunne

    Belle Kanaris Maniates

  • And then he might not choose to accept her munificent offer!

  • We do hear of munificent donations by benevolent millionaires now and then.

  • Poor Gustavo saw a munificent shower of tips vanishing into nothing.

    Jerry

    Jean Webster

British Dictionary definitions for munificent

munificent

adjective
  1. (of a person) very generous; bountiful
  2. (of a gift) generous; liberal
Derived Formsmunificence or munificentness, nounmunificently, adverb

Word Origin for munificent

C16: back formation from Latin mūnificentia liberality, from mūnificus, from mūnus gift + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for munificent
adj.

1580s, back-formation from munificence, or else from Latin munificent-, stem of munificus "bountiful, liberal, generous" (see munificence).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper