# benevolence

/bəˈnɛvəɫəns/ (US) · /bənˈɛvələns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/benevolence
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. kindness and goodwill

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of being kind and helpful toward others.

For teachers: the quality of well-meaning; a natural disposition to do good for others.

- The old man was known throughout the village for his benevolence and generosity.
- The professor's benevolence toward his struggling students was evident in the extra hours he spent providing individual guidance after lectures.

### 2. charity or giving

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an act of kindness or a gift given to help people.

For teachers: an act of kindness or a charitable gift; the practice of performing charitable actions.

- The new hospital was built thanks to the benevolence of a local family.
- The foundation was established to ensure that the founder's benevolence would continue to support medical research for decades to come.

### 3. historical forced loan

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic · Technical

a historical tax or loan that a king forced people to pay.

For teachers: a forced loan or contribution levied by English kings without legal authority, particularly during the 15th century.

- King Edward IV raised money through a benevolence to fund his military campaigns.
- Parliament eventually declared the practice of collecting a benevolence illegal, as it bypassed the traditional legislative control over taxation.

## Examples

- The old man was known for his great benevolence.
- The foundation was established through the benevolence of a wealthy industrialist who wanted to improve local education.
- While the public admired his benevolence, critics questioned whether his charitable donations were intended to offset the environmental damage caused by his primary business ventures.

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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.