noun
Uncommon
bounty
BOWN-tee
Bounty (noun) means a reward offered, often by an authority, for capturing a person or completing a specific task. Example: “There was a large bounty on the escaped fugitive.”
noun
1
A reward offered, often by an authority, for capturing a person or completing a specific task.
"There was a large bounty on the escaped fugitive."
"The company offers a bounty to anyone who finds a security flaw."
"The town council put up a bounty for every stray rat caught."
2
Generosity, or the plentiful things that generosity provides.
"The table was piled with the bounty of the autumn harvest."
How to use bounty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA reward for catching someone or completing a task, or generous abundance.
Common pairings
bounty hunter
a bounty on someone's head
bug bounty
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Word forms
- Plural
- bounties
- Third person singular
- bounties
- Past tense
- bountied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a large _____ on the escaped fugitive.
Etymology
From Old French bonté, "goodness," from Latin bonitas — the reward sense developed later in English.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bounty
See all rhymes for bounty →Frequently asked questions
What does “bounty” mean?
The word “bounty” means a reward offered, often by an authority, for capturing a person or completing a specific task. In plain terms, a reward for catching someone or completing a task, or generous abundance.
How do you pronounce “bounty”?
“Bounty” is pronounced BOWN-tee (/ˈbaʊn(t)i/ in IPA).
How do you use “bounty” in a sentence?
Here is “bounty” used in a sentence: “There was a large bounty on the escaped fugitive.”
What part of speech is “bounty”?
“Bounty” is a noun.
Where does the word “bounty” come from?
The word “bounty” comes from Latin. From Old French bonté, "goodness," from Latin bonitas — the reward sense developed later in English.
Is “bounty” a common word?
“Bounty” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bounty” have?
“Bounty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a reward offered, often by an authority, for capturing a person or completing a specific task.
What is the difference between a bounty and a reward?
A bounty is typically a reward offered by an authority for capturing a person or completing a specific task, often carrying a formal or official tone, such as a bounty on a wanted criminal. "Reward" is a more general term that can apply to any prize given for good behaviour, effort, or achievement.
What does it mean to have a bounty on someone's head?
Having a bounty on someone's head means an authority or organization has offered a reward for capturing that person, often used literally in law enforcement contexts or figuratively to describe someone being pursued.
What is the difference between bounty and abundance?
When used to mean generosity or plenty, bounty refers to the generous giving of something or the plentiful things that generosity provides, while abundance simply describes a large quantity of something without necessarily implying generosity. Bounty carries a slightly more poetic or old-fashioned tone in this sense.
