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”; eleemosynary

Example Sentences

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

The royal cohort also carried with them gold-lined chests filled with silver and gold pieces to distribute as alms, cash worth thousands of rupees and 12,000 "dresses of honour".

From BBC • Feb. 15, 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

Most of the monks departed with their alms bowls, in order to obtain food for their midday meal, the only one of the day.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse