Philanthropy
noun /fɪˈlænθrəpi/ — Love of humanity expressed through generous charitable giving or action.
Definition
The desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes; the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions.
Beyond the definition
Philanthropy is altruism with scale — organized, often institutional, love of humanity expressed through significant resources. The word has become associated with wealth, which has changed its connotation: the philanthropist is someone with enough to give away significantly.
Origin & history
From Greek philanthropia — love of humanity (philos: loving + anthrōpos: human being). Loving humanity — the Greek compound that names the simplest formulation of the motivation.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her philanthropy was strategic — not just giving but designed to produce structural change.
Philanthropy done well requires the same rigor as any other serious endeavor.
The etymology of philanthropy is almost embarrassingly direct: it is the love of human beings.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Philanthropy” when the meaning fits your context: The desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes; the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions.
Synonyms
charity, benevolence, generosity, humanitarianism
Antonyms
misanthropy, selfishness, greed
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Illustrative example
Generous Table of Plenty
A large Swedish buffet table displays a wide, varied selection of different dishes available for many people to share.
The buffet table serves as an analogy for philanthropy, representing the act of providing a bounty for the public good. It emphasizes the generous impulse to make resources available in an inclusive, hospitable manner that promotes the welfare of the collective.
Image credit: by bigmick · CC BY-SA 2.0 (license)
Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with a fitted crop.
Questions about this word
What does "Philanthropy" mean?
Philanthropy is noun meaning: Love of humanity expressed through generous charitable giving or action.. The desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes; the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions.
Where does the word "Philanthropy" come from?
From Greek philanthropia — love of humanity (philos: loving + anthrōpos: human being). Loving humanity — the Greek compound that names the simplest formulation of the motivation.