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magnanimity

UK/ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti/US/ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti/
nounC2Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #14,776 of 15,258neutral

Magnanimity is generosity of spirit, especially towards a beaten rival. Show magnanimity, magnanimity in victory, an act of magnanimity.

The word implies you could have been harsh and chose not to be, which is why it belongs to the winner. The Latin is great-souled, and pusillanimous is its exact opposite.

Definitions of magnanimity

  1. 1nounmagnanimityGenerosity of spirit, especially towards a beaten rival.C2

    “His magnanimity after the vote won him more friends than the campaign had.”

magnanimity is a generosity.

Where it comes from

Latin magnanimitas is magnus, great, plus animus, spirit: great-souled.

  1. Latin

    magnanimitās

  2. Middle French

    magnanimité

  3. English, today

    magnanimity

From Middle French magnanimité, from Old French, from Latin magnanimitās.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

magnanimity in the wild

  • When viewed as a virtue, pride in one's abilities is known as virtuous pride, greatness of soul, or magnanimity.

    Pride

  • Although the word magnanimity has a traditional connection to Aristotelian philosophy, it also has its own tradition in English which now causes some confusion.

    Magnanimity

  • In one poem, entitled Felon cor ai et enic, he praised Manfred's bravery and magnanimity.

    Perceval Doria

  • The regent at the time was impressed by such magnanimity and investigated the case and found these Sufis to be good Muslims.

    Abu al-Husain al-Nuri

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.