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
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The signature Four Seasons bed is there, clad in sumptuous white linens, and even the rooms have plenty of seating areas and ample closet space.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
Then, later in the fall, the same could be said for sumptuous suede jackets from Staud and Rùadh, which topped many a fashion week look—Vogue Shopping’s own Madeline Fass and Lisa Aiken included.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 14 May 2026
Rich colour palettes, sumptuous carpets and opulent fabrics like silk drapes and velvet sofas are décor hallmarks.
—Ellie Seymour, TheWeek, 12 May 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 20 May. 2026.
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sumptuous
adjective
