cornucopia

noun

cor·​nu·​co·​pia ˌkȯr-nə-ˈkō-pē-ə 

-nyə-ˈkō-

1

: a curved, hollow goat's horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing especially with fruit and vegetables (such as gourds, ears of corn, apples, and grapes) and that is used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance

called also horn of plenty

2

: an inexhaustible store : abundance

We marveled at the cornucopia of fruits, meats, toys, fresh fish, baskets, utensils and leather goods for sale in stalls that lined the streets for as far as we could see.

—Guy Garcia

For contemporary performers, soul represents a cornucopia of musical ideas.

—Jon Pareles

3

: a receptacle shaped like a horn or cone

cornucopian

ˌkȯr-nə-ˈkō-pē-ən 

-nyə-ˈkō-

adjective

Illustration of cornucopia

• cornucopia a

Did you know?

Cornucopia Has Latin Origins and Greek History

Cornucopia comes from the Late Latin cornu copiae, which translates literally as “horn of plenty.” A traditional staple of feasts, the cornucopia is believed to represent the horn of a goat from Greek mythology. According to legend, it was from this horn, which could be filled with whatever the owner wished, that the god Zeus was fed as an infant by his nurse, the nymph Amalthaea. Later, the horn was filled with flowers and fruits, and given as a present to Zeus. The filled horn (or a receptacle resembling it) has long served as a traditional symbol in art and decoration to suggest a store of abundance. The word first appeared in English in the early 16th century; a century later, it developed the figurative sense of “an overflowing supply.”

Synonyms

• repository
• wellspring
• gold mine
• treasure trove
• mine

Examples of cornucopia in a Sentence

The market is a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables.

The book includes a cornucopia of wonderful stories.

Recent Examples on the Web

The menu at Lex Yard is a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables, the selection attuned to the seasons in a way that feels real, not just like empty words in a server spiel. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025

Grand Marais, Minnesota When to see peak fall foliage: Mid-September to early October The crown jewel of Lake Superior’s North Shore, this small town is the ultimate fall cornucopia—overflowing with delicious things to eat, see, buy, and do. —Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025

On the other is a cornucopia flanked by stars with a stamp of her name, a common symbol of prosperity and fertility in antiquity. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2025

Gimlet’s offices were all start-up pizzazz — designer furniture, gleaming cutting-edge equipment, break rooms stocked with free sparkling water and a cornucopia of snacks. —Eric Benson, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin cornu copiae horn of plenty

First Known Use

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cornucopia

• atropia
• cecropia
• diplopia
• dystopia
• myopia
• utopia
• amblyopia
• hyperopia
• hypermetropia

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Kids Definition

cornucopia

noun

cor·​nu·​co·​pia ˌkȯr-n(y)ə-ˈkō-pē-ə 

1

: a horn-shaped container overflowing with fruits and flowers used as a symbol of plenty

2

: a container shaped like a horn or a cone