Word
charity
Phoneticschar·i·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtʃɛɹɪti/
UK/tʃˈæɹɪti/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. an organization that collects money or goods to help people in need. It can also mean the act of giving money or being kind to others.
n. an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need; also, the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in distress.
Examples
“She gives money to a local charity every month.”
“The school organized a bake sale to raise funds for a children's charity in the city.”
“While the gala was a social success, its primary purpose remained the support of a global charity dedicated to eradicating waterborne diseases in developing nations.”
Examples
simple
“She gives money to a local charity every month.”
contextual
“The school organized a bake sale to raise funds for a children's charity in the city.”
complex
“While the gala was a social success, its primary purpose remained the support of a global charity dedicated to eradicating waterborne diseases in developing nations.”
Usage
Countable when referring to a specific organization; uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of giving or kindness.
Etymology
From charity in the Biblical sense of Christian love; first used by Puritans. In early Christian tradition, Faith, Hope and Charity were the martyred daughters of Saint Sophia. The names, taken from 1 Corinthians 13:13 ("And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity") have been translated and used in many languages. The name of the sura (chapter) is one of several translations of the original Arabic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
02. charity mugger
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/charity