charitable

[char-i-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. generous in donations or gifts to relieve the needs of indigent, ill, or helpless people, or of animals.

   a charitable man giving much money to feed people experiencing food insecurity.

   Synonyms: benevolent, bountiful, liberal, beneficent
   Antonyms: selfish

2. kindly or lenient in judging people, acts, etc..

   charitable in his opinions of others.

   Synonyms: mild, considerate, broad-minded, merciful, lenient
   Antonyms: intolerant, severe

3. relating to or concerned with charity.

   a charitable institution.

charitable

/ ˈtʃærɪtəbəl /

adjective

1. generous in giving to the needy

2. kind or lenient in one's attitude towards others

3. concerned with or involving charity

Other Word Forms

• charitableness noun
• charitably adverb
• noncharitable adjective
• noncharitableness noun
• noncharitably adverb
• overcharitable adjective
• overcharitableness noun
• overcharitably adverb
• pseudocharitable adjective
• pseudocharitably adverb
• quasi-charitable adjective
• quasi-charitably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of charitable¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to charit(e) charity + -able -able

Synonym Study

See generous.

Example Sentences

The National Lottery raises money for charitable causes alongside its jackpots, and since its foundation in the 1990s, it has donated more than £50 billion for charitable causes.

From BBC

He has worked in communications in public, political and charitable organisations, including roles in political communications and public affairs, where he has used his platform to highlight issues facing the left-behind communities of south Wales.

From BBC

“We saw an enormous charitable response for Camp fire victims,” said Katie Simmons, deputy chief administrative officer overseeing recovery efforts for Butte County.

From Los Angeles Times

The group presents itself as focused on fellowship, moral development and charity, and is among the UK's biggest charitable donors.

From BBC

"One of the great things about these team events for me is there's always such a big charitable component to it, so I'm going to donate the money," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• considerate 
• forgiving 
• gracious 
• magnanimous 
• thoughtful 
• tolerant