English Reference
Adjective

philanthropic

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˌfɪɫənˈθɹɑpɪk/ UK /fɪlɐnθɹˈɒpɪk/ phil·an·thropic

adj.giving money, time, or help to people who need it. You use this to describe someone who wants to make the world better through kindness.

adj.characterised by the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed by the generous donation of money or resources to good causes.


SIMPLE

The billionaire is known for his philanthropic work in education.

CONTEXTUAL

Many large corporations establish philanthropic foundations to manage their charitable giving and community outreach programs.

COMPLEX

The university's new research wing was made possible through a philanthropic gift from an anonymous donor who wished to support advancements in renewable energy.

Usage

Often used to describe individuals, organisations, or specific acts of giving.

However, as they became wealthier, Nathan and his wife, Lina, increasingly devoted their attention to a series of philanthropic projects.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026

The La Verne Noyes Fund is another example of a philanthropic institution dedicated to a mission it outgrew, as I discussed in my book on college affordability .

The Conversation· 16 Jul 2026

From French philanthropique.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin French philanthropique
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated