Word
philanthropy
Phoneticsphi·lan·thropy
US/fɪˈɫænθɹəpi/
UK/fɪlˈænθɹəpi/
Definitions
01charitable giving
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of giving away money or help to improve the lives of others.
n. benevolent altruism intended to increase the well-being of humankind, often through significant financial contributions.
“The billionaire is famous for his philanthropy, giving millions to schools and hospitals.”
“Modern philanthropy has shifted toward strategic giving, where donors seek to address the root causes of social inequality rather than just providing immediate relief.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general practice or spirit of giving.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a specific act or organization
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal · Technical
n. a specific act of helping others or a foundation that gives money to good causes.
n. a specific philanthropic act or a charitable foundation established for the public good.
“Her many philanthropies include a foundation that protects the local forest.”
“The family's various philanthropies are managed by a board of trustees who oversee the distribution of annual grants.”
Usage
Countable in this sense; often used in the plural to describe multiple projects or organizations.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Carnegie’s major outlet for doubts about his wealth came through philanthropy, prominently the construction of libraries for working people.” “The portal came out of the Colorado Housing Consortium , a coalition launched in 2025 that brings together more than 120 people from state and local government, developers, lenders, philanthropies and nonprofits.” Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin philanthrōpia, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek φιλανθρωπία (philanthrōpía). By surface analysis, phil- + -anthropy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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