alms

noun

ˈä(l)mz 

plural alms

1

: something (such as money or food) given freely to relieve the poor

distributing alms to the needy

2

archaic : charity

almsgiver

ˈä(l)mz-ˌgi-vər 

noun

almsgiving

ˈä(l)mz-ˌgi-viŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• benefaction
• beneficence
• charity
• contribution
• donation
• philanthropy

Examples of alms in a Sentence

believes that giving alms to the poor is a moral duty

Recent Examples on the Web

Those celebrating also pay zakat al-fitr, an alms-tax that goes towards those in need. —Juliana Labianca, Good Housekeeping, 26 Jan. 2023

In 2007, amid rising fuel prices and yet another economic crisis, Buddhist monks led mass protests in Yangon and other cities, overturning their alms bowls to signal disenchantment with the military junta. —Hannah Beech, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022

Not that the alms offered up by President Biden and European leaders will do much good. —The Editorial Board, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2022

Her public life was defined by these duties, some seemingly trivial, such as handing out symbolic alms, others mantled with pomp and pageantry — the opening of Parliament or the hosting of a state dinner. —Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English almesse, almes, going back to Old English ælmæsse, ælmes, borrowed from Vulgar Latin *alimosina, altered from Late Latin eleēmosyna "charitable gift, act of charity," borrowed from Greek eleēmosýnē "pity, act of kindness, alms" — more at eleemosynary

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

alms

noun

ˈämz 

ˈälmz

plural alms

: something and especially money given to help the poor : charity

almsgiver

-ˌgiv-ər 

noun

almsgiving

-ˌgiv-iŋ 

noun