bounty

noun

boun·​ty ˈbau̇n-tē 

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

Synonyms of bounty

• reward
• price
• bonus

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

Chalone, established by Dick Graff, was able to get water and electricity in the 1990s, and shared their bounty with their neighbors. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Despite what the name implies, this style of cooking fuses not just two but three parts of the world, combining the marine bounty of Baja with Mediterranean ingredients like olive oil and Asian aromatics like soy sauce and lemongrass. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026

Yet 167 years after German mathematician Bernhard Riemann made this guess, and in spite of a million-dollar bounty, mathematicians still have no idea how to prove it. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026

The program rewards researchers with bounties of up to $5 million for successful reporting of serious vulnerabilities in Apple’s operating systems, services, or devices. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing bounty

• bounty hunter

Rhymes for bounty

• county

Kids Definition

bounty

noun

boun·​ty ˈbau̇nt-ē 

plural bounties

1

a

: generosity sense 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 

plural bounties

1

: generosity in bestowing gifts especially by will

2

: a reward, premium, or subsidy especially offered by a government