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definitions

munificent

[myoo-nif-uh-suhnt]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR munificent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

extremely liberal in giving; very generous.
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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR munificent ON THESAURUS.COM
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. 2019

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

(of a person) very generous; bountiful
(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