What does bounty mean?
Bounty is a noun with two closely related senses: first, a monetary reward or payment offered by a government, organization, or individual to incentivize a particular action — most famously the capture of a criminal or the achievement of a specific goal. Second, and somewhat more literary, bounty describes generosity itself or the abundant, freely given produce of something, as in 'the bounty of the earth.' The word derives ultimately from Latin 'bonitas' meaning 'goodness,' via Old French 'bonté,' so at its heart lies the idea of good things being shared or conferred. Today, 'bounty hunter' — someone who tracks down fugitives for a reward — remains one of its most recognizable uses, alongside phrases like 'putting a price on one's head.' Whether describing a cash prize or nature's generosity, bounty consistently connotes abundance and goodwill rather than obligation or debt.
A monetary reward or payment, especially one offered by a government or organization for capturing a criminal or accomplishing a specific objective.
"The company placed a bounty on the heads of hackers who exposed critical vulnerabilities."
In modern usage this sense frequently appears with verbs like 'offer,' 'place,' or 'claim' a bounty.
Generosity in giving; an abundant supply or liberal provision, often used figuratively.
"They celebrated the season's bounty with a large communal feast."
This sense tends toward formal or literary register and is commonly paired with words like 'nature's' or 'the harvest.'
The plural 'bounties' is standard and typically refers to multiple distinct rewards, payments, or instances of generous provision rather than an abstract quality.
"Several states have historically offered bounties to encourage the hunting of invasive species."
The word bounty traces back to Latin 'bonus' — meaning 'good' — which is why every reward, from pirate treasure to nature's harvest, carries goodness in its very root.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bounty
Bounty comes from the Anglo-French and Old French word 'bonté,' meaning 'goodness' or 'generosity,' derived from Latin 'bonitatem' (nominative 'bonitas'), from 'bonus' meaning 'good.' It entered English in the Middle English period, initially carrying the sense of moral goodness before narrowing toward generosity and material reward. Cognates include the French 'bonté' and related words built on the Latin 'bon-' root, such as bonus, bonanza, and bona fide.
Related word forms
How bounty is actually used
Bounty often carries a slightly formal or literary tone, especially in the figurative sense of generous provision. In legal and commercial contexts it typically denotes a specific monetary incentive. The plural 'bounties' usually appears when referring to multiple separate rewards or payments.
Easily confused with bounty
Beauty refers to aesthetic attractiveness, while bounty refers to generosity or a monetary reward; they differ by one letter but are unrelated in meaning.
A county is a territorial division of a country, whereas bounty is generosity or a reward paid for something.