cornucopia

American  

[kawr-nuh-koh-pee-uh, -nyuh-] / ˌkɔr nəˈkoʊ pi ə, -nyə- /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a horn containing food, drink, etc., in endless supply, said to have been a horn of the goat Amalthaea.

2. a representation of this horn, used as a symbol of abundance.

3. an abundant, overflowing supply.

4. a horn-shaped or conical receptacle or ornament.

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cornucopia British  

/ ˌkɔːnjʊˈkəʊpɪə /

noun

1. Greek myth the horn of Amalthea, the goat that suckled Zeus

2. a representation of such a horn in painting, sculpture, etc, overflowing with fruit, vegetables, etc; horn of plenty

3. a great abundance; overflowing supply

4. a horn-shaped container

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Usage

What is a cornucopia? Cornucopia refers to an abundance or an overflowing supply, as in Santa Claus’ workshop has a cornucopia of toys, everything from alphabet blocks to stuffed zebras.  A cornucopia is a horned-shaped container filled with food or a decoration resembling this. You might commonly see images of a straw cornucopia with fruits and vegetables in it around Thanksgiving. The original cornucopia comes from Greek mythology. It was an empty goat horn that spilled out an endless supply of food and drink. The adjective cornucopian describes something related to a cornucopia, usually a large amount of something, as in The warehouse was stocked with a cornucopian amount of food and drinks. Example: We were amazed by the cornucopia of foods and desserts available at the bustling marketplace. 

Other Word Forms

• cornucopian adjective
• cornucopiate adjective

Etymology

Origin of cornucopia

First recorded in 1585–95; from Late Latin cornū cōpiae “horn of plenty,” from Latin cornū “horn” + cōpiae (genitive singular of cōpia “abundance”); horn, cornu, copious

Explanation

A grocery store with a large selection of fruits and vegetables could be said to have a cornucopia of produce. A cornucopia is a lot of good stuff. Around Thanksgiving in the United States, you'll often see cornucopias or horn-shaped baskets filled with fruit and other goodies as centerpieces. Originally, a cornucopia was a goat's horn filled with corn and fruit to symbolize plenty. Nowadays, a cornucopia is probably made of some kind of plaster or wicker, but it still symbolizes the same thing — a good harvest season.

Example Sentences

As trick-or-treaters make their rounds this year, many will be expecting the usual cornucopia of candy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

But Alaska was no cornucopia, and hungry Russia cast its eyes south, to verdant California.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2025

"If we allow it, we can be taught all sorts of things by all manner of life’s cornucopia of beauty and strangeness."

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2025

Once the Summit Express gets the green light, a cornucopia of black and double black diamond runs comes into play.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 10, 2024

Piper was already on the quarterdeck, shooting food from her cornucopia and yelling, “Hey! HEY! Eat this, ya stupid turtle!”

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• abundance
• affluence
• cash
• property
• prosperity
• revenue
• riches
• richness
• security
• treasure
• worth