philanthropic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of philanthropic
First recorded in 1780–90; philanthrop(y) + -ic
Explanation
Something given to help others is philanthropic. Money, household items, giving your time and energy to a cause — all can be philanthropic contributions. Philanthropic, pronounced "fill-an-THRAW-pick," comes from the Greek word philanthropos "loving mankind, useful to man." Philanthropic organizations work to help people, running their operations by relying on resources donated by people who are able to give. Many charities, museums, universities, cultural centers, and scientific institutions rely on philanthropic support to pay their bills.
Vocabulary lists containing philanthropic
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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'Tis The Season: Words For Giving
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This Week in Words: September 15 - 21, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Philanthropic and charitable donations do not count toward the $5,000 contribution limit.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
At National Philanthropic Trust, a major DAF provider, donors opened more than 3,700 new accounts in November and December of 2025, an increase of 123% from a year earlier.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
The fund is accepting donations through the National Philanthropic Trust, the charitable organization that will distribute the funds.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2023
The foundation will be maintained by the National Philanthropic Trust.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2023
So this test—they named it the Bernard Lutz Philanthropic Exam, in honor of his philanthropicness—became fairly important in my life.
From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
