largesse

noun

lar·​gesse lär-ˈzhes How to pronounce largesse (audio) lär-ˈjes How to pronounce largesse (audio)
 also  ˈlär-ˌjes
variants or less commonly largess
1
: liberal giving (as of money) to or as if to an inferior
a philanthropist known for his largesse
also : something so given
projects depending on a flow of federal largesse
2
: generosity
his generosity of spirit, an absolutely natural largesseHarvey Breit

Did you know?

The word largesse, which also can be spelled largess, comes from Anglo-French large, meaning "generous."

Examples of largesse in a Sentence

He relied on the largesse of friends after he lost his job.
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.
Whether the relative largesse of the period since then continues remains to be seen. Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025 But there are also less direct ways in which Musk has benefitted from government largesse. Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025 Being generous is a purposeful act, a voluntary desire to spread largesse. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 13 Mar. 2025 Executives at some of the companies benefitting from the state’s largesse have made generous donations to Abbott’s campaign fund. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for largesse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English largesse, from Anglo-French, from large

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of largesse was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Largesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/largesse. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

largesse

noun
lar·​gesse
variants also largess
1
: generous giving
2
: a generous gift

More from Merriam-Webster on largesse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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