philanthropy

[ fi-lan-thruh-pee ]
See synonyms for: philanthropyphilanthropies on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural phi·lan·thro·pies.
  1. altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons, by endowment of institutions of learning and hospitals, and by generosity to other socially useful purposes.

  2. the activity of donating to such persons or purposes in this way: to devote one's later years to philanthropy.

  1. a particular act, form, or instance of this activity: The art museum was their favorite philanthropy.

  2. an organization devoted to helping needy persons or to other socially useful purposes.

Origin of philanthropy

1
First recorded in 1600–10; earlier philanthropia, from Late Latin, from Greek philanthrōpía “benevolence, humane feeling”; see phil-, anthropo-, -y3

Words Nearby philanthropy

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How to use philanthropy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for philanthropy

philanthropy

/ (fɪˈlænθrəpɪ) /


nounplural -pies
  1. the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions

  2. love of mankind in general

Origin of philanthropy

1
C17: from Late Latin philanthrōpia, from Greek: love of mankind, from philos loving + anthrōpos man

Derived forms of philanthropy

  • philanthropist or philanthrope (ˈfɪlənˌθrəʊp), noun

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