magnanimous
mag-NAN-ih-muss
/mæɡˈnæn.ɪ.məs/
generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person
Reflects a noble, big-hearted spirit that refuses to hold grudges, seek revenge, or gloat in victory.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'magnanimus', joining 'magnus' (great) and 'animus' (mind or soul). It literally translates to 'great-souled'—a term used by Aristotle to describe the highest moral virtue of nobility.
Word relationships
- generous: Generous focuses on giving freely, whereas magnanimous focuses specifically on noble forgiveness and high-mindedness toward rivals.
- forgiving: Forgiving refers to letting go of anger; magnanimous elevates this into an impressive strength of character.
- petty: Of little importance; mean-spirited and small-minded.
- vindictive: Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.
Commonly confused with
- monotonous: Monotonous means dull, repetitive, and lacking variety; magnanimous means noble-spirited and forgiving.
Word family
- magnanimity (noun): nobility of spirit; generosity and forgiveness
- magnanimously (adverb): in a magnanimous manner
Collocations
- magnanimous gesture
- magnanimous victor
- magnanimous spirit
- magnanimous offer
Idioms & expressions
- take the high road
- big-hearted
Example sentences
- "In his victory speech, the newly elected president was magnanimous, praising his rival's dedication to public service." Political history
- "The champion was magnanimous in defeat, genuinely congratulating the young challenger who had broken her record." Competitive sports
Memory hook
MAGN-ANIMOUS = MAGNificent ANIMUS (soul). Having a magnificent, great soul that forgives. Great-souled generosity in victory.
When not to use
Do not use for petty or routine acts of politeness; it belongs to high-minded acts of mercy, forgiveness, or grand generosity.
Fun facts
- Aristotle's concept of the 'megalopsychos' (great-souled man) was directly translated into Latin as 'magnanimus'.
Related words
Explore more words
munificent, charitable, gracious, accommodating, amicable, lenient
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