philanthropy

noun

phi·​lan·​thro·​py fə-ˈlan(t)-thrə-pē 

plural philanthropies

1

: goodwill to fellow members of the human race

especially : active effort to promote human welfare

2

a

: an act or gift done or made for humanitarian purposes

b

: an organization distributing or supported by funds set aside for humanitarian purposes

Did you know?

The Greek root of philanthropy may be literally translated as "loving people." The English word can refer to general goodwill to one's fellow people, as well as to the active effort to promote the welfare of people, but in modern use it is most often used to refer specifically to the practice of giving money and time to help make life better for others. A person who practices philanthropy is called a philanthropist; the term philanthrope was formerly used with the same meaning, but it is now considered archaic.

Synonyms

• alms
• benefaction
• beneficence
• charity
• contribution
• donation

Examples of philanthropy in a Sentence

For many years, Microsoft has used corporate philanthropy to bring technology to people who can't get it otherwise, donating more than $3 billion in cash and software to try to bridge the digital divide. —Bill Gates, Time, 11 Aug. 2008

Cooper, born in New York City in 1791, was himself an inventor and a hands-on industrialist, whose fortune got its start in the glue business, greatly expanded in the iron industry, eventually included more than half the telegraph lines in the United States, and was significantly invested in philanthropy and the cause of public education. —John Updike, New York Review of Books, 10 Aug. 2006

In conditions of anarchy, a crude and violent order, based upon brute force and psychopathic ruthlessness, soon establishes itself, which regards philanthropy not as a friend but as an enemy and a threat. —Theodore Dalrymple, National Review, 26 Sept. 2005

The family's philanthropy made it possible to build the public library.

among the industrialist's philanthropies was a college scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city

Recent Examples on the Web

Businessman and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that his philanthropy group will make up for U.S. funding to the United Nations climate agency following President Donald Trump's decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025

Battelle and Shlain make a clear distinction between philanthropy and investing, even when a guest speaker is both an academic and an entrepreneur. —Grace Huckins, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2025

This week, as people gather in Washington for Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, leaders from business, government, philanthropy, and non-profit sectors are also gathering in Davos for the World Economic Forum 2025 edition (WEF 2025). —Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025

The Reader, which depends equally on philanthropy and advertising to meet its budget, was operating at roughly breakeven as recently as 2022, according to its tax filings, losing about $48,000 on $2.7 million in revenue. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin philanthropia, from Greek philanthrōpia, from philanthrōpos loving people, from phil- + anthrōpos human being

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

philanthropy

noun

phi·​lan·​thro·​py fə-ˈlan(t)-thrə-pē 

plural philanthropies

1

: a spirit of goodwill toward all people especially when expressed in active efforts to help others

2

: a charitable act or gift

3

: an organization which distributes or is supported by charitable contributions

philanthropist

-pəst

noun