sumptuous
adjective
Did you know?
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens may be a few of your favorite things, but are they sumptuous? Alas, though the best things in life are often free, sumptuous is a child of the Latin word sumptus, meaning “expense,” and it typically describes things that can only be had at some significant expense. A sumptuous lifestyle, for example, is more likely to involve silver-white bling than a silver-white winter that melts into spring. Sumptus has another English relation, this one tied even more closely to conspicuous consumption: sumptuary laws are largely historical regulations limiting extravagant expenditures and habits, especially on moral or religious grounds. (The sump in consumption is coincidental; that word comes from consume, which has its roots in Latin sumere meaning “to take up, take.”)
Examples of sumptuous in a Sentence
Meg Walters, InStyle, 13 Mar. 2026
Onboard, guests enjoy more than 20 dining options, complimentary WiFi and unlimited group fitness classes, innovative and captivating entertainment, a sumptuous spa and even a tattoo studio, the first at sea.
—Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
From comfy seating to layered lighting and soft, sumptuous furniture, comfort is key.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2026
Meticulous and never ostentatious, his work displays refined elegance, luxurious detailing, exacting craftsmanship, historical references, and a sumptuous materiality.
—Jennifer Baum Lagdameo, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sumptuous
Cite this Entry
“Sumptuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sumptuous. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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sumptuous
adjective
