plural bounties
Synonyms of bounty
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 7-foot-2 Kessler was an immediate force around both rims for the Lakers, who traded a bounty of draft capital to Utah to fill Doncic's desire for a top center. — CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Visitors can get a taste of Hawaii’s agricultural bounty at places like the KCC Farmers Market, held Saturday mornings near Diamond Head, where local vendors sell tropical fruit, coffee, and prepared foods. — Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2026 The chef’s special chirashi boxes are striking, opulent collections of the day’s bounty. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Not quite land and not quite water, too wet to yield bounty, too dangerous to navigate, too wild to fit into our concept of beauty, bogs were obstacles to human prosperity. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bounty

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bounty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bounty. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

plural bounties
1
: generosity in bestowing gifts especially by will
2
: a reward, premium, or subsidy especially offered by a government

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