Word
generosity
Phoneticsgen·eros·i·ty
US/ˌdʒɛnɝˈɑsəti/
UK/dʒˌɛnəɹˈɒsɪti/
Definitions
01willingness to give
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the quality of being kind and sharing your money, time, or things with others.
n. the quality of being kind and generous; the willingness to give money, help, or time freely. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
“We were all touched by her generosity when she offered to pay for our lunch.”
“The local community was overwhelmed by the generosity of the anonymous donor who funded the new library wing.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'towards' or 'to'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a generous act
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a specific act of being kind or giving something to someone.
n. a specific instance or act of giving. Countable in this sense.
“The family thanked him for his many generosities over the years.”
“The biography details the various generosities the philanthropist performed throughout his life, many of which were kept secret until his death.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural to describe multiple kind actions.
03abundance
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the quality of being plentiful or having a large amount of something.
n. the quality of being abundant or more than adequate in amount or size.
“The generosity of the harvest meant that no one in the village went hungry.”
“The chef was known for the generosity of his portions, ensuring that every guest left the restaurant fully satisfied.”
Usage
Often used to describe natural resources or portions of food.
Synonyms
04noble birth
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Archaic · Literary
n. coming from a high social class or a noble family.
n. nobility of birth, stock, or character.
“The knight was respected for his generosity and his brave heart.”
“In the old tales, a man's generosity was judged as much by his lineage as by his actions on the battlefield.”
Teaching tip
This sense is rarely encountered outside of historical literature or classical texts.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English generosite, from Latin generōsitās.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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