alms

American  

[ahmz] / ɑmz /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. money, food, or other donations given to people in need; anything given as charity.

   She showed her generosity by giving alms regularly.

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alms British  

/ ɑːmz /

plural noun

1. charitable donations of money or goods to the poor or needy

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Etymology

Origin of alms

First recorded before 1000; Middle English almes, almesse, Old English ælmesse (compare Old Saxon alamōsna, Old High German alamuosa, Dutch aalmoes; Old Spanish almosna ), ultimately derived from Late Latin eleēmosyna, from Greek eleēmosýnē “compassion, alms,” derivative of éleos “pity”; see eleemosynary

Explanation

Alms are money, food, or similar items given to the poor as a charitable act. The word isn't used much today, but in movies set in the 1800s or earlier, you'll likely see street beggars shouting, "Alms for the poor!" The word alms comes from the Greek word eleemosyne, which means "compassion or pity," and is itself from the word eleos, which means "mercy." Related words include almshouse (a poorhouse), almsman (someone who receives charitable alms), and alms chest (a box in a church used for the purpose of collecting money for the poor). None of these words are very common today.

Example Sentences

Violet ended up going to Italy where she learnt the language and "did good works", said her great-niece, adding: "It was that kind of age where rich people gave alms to the poor."

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

In my view, there’s no contradiction because wearing ashes in public, unlike righteous acts of giving alms, fasting and praying in public, is a sign that we are sinners and in need of repentance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Like giving alms, his congregants should give waqf, a kind of religious donation, to renewable energy.

From New York Times • Apr. 17, 2024

A young girl holds out an alms bowl to beg for help from an equally poor woman engaged in spinning wool.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2023

Clearing her throat, she replied in tones worthy of a monk collecting alms.

From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord