# alms

/ˈɑɫmz/ (US) · /ˈɑːmz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alms
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

money or food that people give to the poor or to a religious group. It is a formal word often used in stories about charity or in religious settings.

For teachers: money, food, or other goods given to the poor or to a religious institution as an act of charity. Often used in the plural form to describe the practice of giving.

## Examples

- The church collects alms for the local food bank.
- The monks lived on alms provided by the local community and spent their days in quiet meditation.
- In many historical accounts, the distribution of alms was not merely an act of charity but a public demonstration of social status and religious devotion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.