What does "generosity" mean?

1. (willingness to give) the quality of being kind and sharing your money, time, or things with others. 2. (a generous act) a specific act of being kind or giving something to someone. 3. (abundance) the quality of being plentiful or having a large amount of something. 4. (noble birth) coming from a high social class or a noble family.

How do you use "generosity"?

Often used with the preposition 'towards' or 'to'. Usually used in the plural to describe multiple kind actions. Often used to describe natural resources or portions of food.

generosity

US //ˌdʒɛnɝˈɑsəti// UK //dʒˌɛnəɹˈɒsɪti// gen·eros·i·ty

1 willingness to give (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the quality of being kind and sharing your money, time, or things with others.

the quality of being kind and generous; the willingness to give money, help, or time freely. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

Example

We were all touched by her generosity when she offered to pay for our lunch.

Example

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'.
- greed
- selfishness
- meanness
2 a generous act (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a specific act of being kind or giving something to someone.

a specific instance or act of giving. Countable in this sense.

Example

The family thanked him for his many generosities over the years.

Example

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.

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3 abundance (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the quality of being plentiful or having a large amount of something.

the quality of being abundant or more than adequate in amount or size.

Example

The generosity of the harvest meant that no one in the village went hungry.

Example

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.
- abundance
- plentifulness
- profusion
- scarcity
- shortage
4 noble birth (n.)
C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

coming from a high social class or a noble family.

nobility of birth, stock, or character.

Example

The knight was respected for his generosity and his brave heart.

Example

In the old tales, a man's generosity was judged as much by his lineage as by his actions on the battlefield.

Teacher's tip

This sense is rarely encountered outside of historical literature or classical texts.
- nobility
- high birth

Origin

From Middle English generosite, from Latin generōsitās.