bounty

noun

boun·​ty ˈbau̇n-tē How to pronounce bounty (audio)
plural bounties
1
: something that is given generously
nature's bounty
2
: liberality in giving : generosity
3
: yield especially of a crop
this summer's bounty of tomatoes
4
: a reward, premium, or subsidy especially when offered or given by a government: such as
a
: an extra allowance to induce entry into the armed services
b
: a grant to encourage an industry
c
: a payment to encourage the destruction of noxious animals
a bounty on coyotes
d
: a payment for the capture of or assistance in the capture of an outlaw
had a bounty of $500 on his head

Examples of bounty in a Sentence

summer's bounty of plump tomatoes The cottage is filled with a bounty of fresh flowers.
Recent Examples on the Web Beachcombers should prioritize Little Shell and Big Shell beaches, aptly named for their bounty, while adventurous types will love windsurfing or kayaking on Laguna Madre, one of the planet's saltiest bodies of water. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2023 But amid that agonizing site, Geyer would soon discover a bounty of musical archives that would inspire his next project. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023 The sales are mostly over, the packages containing our new beauty bounty haven't arrived yet, and the hype over all of the savings has died down. Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023 Easy Fall Decorating Projects 18 of 41 Marigold Centerpiece Look to flea market finds to decorate with your harvest bounty. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023 The bounty below Jars of krill line the windowsills in Deborah Steinberg’s lab, their pink hue faded but their shells intact. Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2023 In the globe-trotting adventure, Wick fought to survive the bounty until his duel while traveling through Japan, Berlin and France. Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 Even those who journey through its Northeastern complex, into the Southern lands, across the central plains and to its Western slopes can only glimpse a measure of the bounty of America. WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023 The convenient setup allows the animals to oversee and defend their bounty at close range, making larder hoarding worth their while. Emma Bryce, Scientific American, 20 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bounty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bounte goodness, from Anglo-French bunté, bountee, from Latin bonitat-, bonitas, from bonus good, from Old Latin duenos; akin to Sanskrit duva reverence, favor

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bounty was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near bounty

Cite this Entry

“Bounty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bounty. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

bounty

noun
boun·​ty ˈbau̇nt-ē How to pronounce bounty (audio)
plural bounties
1
b
: something given generously
2
: money given as a reward (as for killing a harmful animal or capturing a criminal)
Etymology

Middle English bounte "goodness," from early French bunté (same meaning), derived from Latin bonus "good" — related to bonus

Legal Definition

bounty

noun
boun·​ty ˈbau̇n-tē How to pronounce bounty (audio)
plural bounties
1
: generosity in bestowing gifts especially by will
2
: a reward, premium, or subsidy especially offered by a government

More from Merriam-Webster on bounty

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