Samaritanism

noun

Sa·​mar·​i·​tan·​ism

-ᵊnˌizəm,

-əˌni-

plural -s

1

a

: the religious doctrine of the Samaritans

b

: an expression characteristic of the Samaritan dialect

2

or samaritanism : a compassionate character or deed

Word History

Etymology

Samaritan entry 1 + -ism

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!