Meaning & use
munificent
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivecomparableformalliterary
Very generous in giving money or gifts.
Grammar: Gradable; can be used with 'more' or 'most', but the comparative forms are rare.
Patterns
- munificent gift
- munificent donation
- munificent patron
The university thanked its munificent benefactor.
She made a munificent donation to the hospital.
His munificent support allowed the project to continue.
Word forms
| comparative | more munificent |
|---|---|
| superlative | most munificent |
Common combinations
- munificent gift
- The museum received a munificent gift from a private collector.
- munificent donation
- Her munificent donation funded the new library.
- munificent patron
- The artist was supported by a munificent patron.
Synonyms and how they differ
- generous
- The everyday word; 'munificent' is more formal and suggests grand, often financial, generosity.
- lavish
- Emphasizes spending freely and abundantly, while 'munificent' focuses on the act of giving.
- bountiful
- Suggests a large amount given, often by nature or a provider; 'munificent' is more about the giver's character.
Opposites
Word family
- munificence noun
- The quality of being very generous.
Commonly confused: munificent or magnificent?
munificent vs magnificent
Means 'very beautiful or impressive'; 'munificent' means 'very generous'.
Practice
The billionaire's ______ donation built the new wing of the hospital.
Choose one answer.
We need an adjective before 'donation'; 'munificent' means generous. 'Magnificent' means impressive, 'munificence' is a noun, and 'munificently' is an adverb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “munificent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.