adjective
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(of a person) very generous; bountiful
-
(of a gift) generous; liberal
Synonym Usage
See generous.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of munificent
First recorded in 1565–75; back formation from munificence or from Latin mūnificentia “generosity, bountifulness,” equivalent to mūnific(us) “generous, bountiful” ( muni-, combining form of mūnus “service, duty, gift” + -ficus -fic ) + -entia -ence
Explanation
If you give your best friend a bracelet for her birthday, then you’re a good friend. If you give her a diamond bracelet, a racehorse, and an oil well, then you’re a munificent friend, meaning you are very lavish when it comes to giving gifts. (And it’s possible you may also be broke.) If you’re the generous type, you may already know that the word munificent traces back to the Latin word munificus, meaning “generous or bountiful," which in turn originated from the word munus, meaning “gift or service.” Put those two concepts together and you have big-time gift giving on a lavish scale. Use the word munificent to describe instances of over-the-top generosity — think Oprah on a gift-giving binge at Christmastime.
Vocabulary lists containing munificent
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe
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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.
The real sticking point in the latest contract battle between Carson's Carnac the Magnificent and Silverman the Munificent, however, was not money but exposure.
From Time Magazine Archive
Munificent as life was to me, I added to that munificence.
From John Barleycorn by London, Jack
Munificent endowments of charitable institutions, zeal in reformatory enterprises and in the correction of abuses, have shown that the people of both regions stand upon the same plane of humanity and practical Christian culture.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 08, No. 49, November, 1861 by Various
Munificent and generous in his expense; polite and elegant in his taste; courteous and humane in his behavior; he brought a great accession of friends and of credit to the party which he embraced.
From The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part E. From Charles I. to Cromwell by Hume, David
Thou art, verily, the Bountiful, the Munificent, the Forgiving, the Compassionate.
From Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh
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.
