almsgiving

American  

[ahlmz-giv-ing, ahmz-] / ˈɑlmzˌgɪv ɪŋ, ˈɑmz- /

noun

• almsgivings
  plural

1. the act of donating money, food, or other items to people in need of them, especially as a spiritual practice.

   Almsgiving helps us experience giving freely, which leads to freedom from the obsession with possessing, freedom from the fear of losing what we have.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• almsgivings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of almsgiving

alms + giving

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

almsgiving almsgivings

It concludes a 40-day period known as Lent, during which Christians focus on prayer, almsgiving, and practice traditions such as abstinence from eating meat on certain days.

From Barron's ● Apr. 2, 2026

We’re also supposed to practice almsgiving and assist those less fortunate than ourselves as a way of honoring Christ, who pointed out that giving so it costs you is the only way to give.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2024

While in Mecca he spent lavishly, contributing some 100,000 gold pieces to charity and related almsgiving programs.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

Benefactors who left land to monastic houses for purposes of almsgiving often specified Maundy Thursday as the day on which the alms were to be distributed.

From Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535 by Eileen Power

Many songs deal directly with almsgivings, the ritual of pity.

From Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs (1886) by Countess Evelyn Martinengo-Cesaresco

Not to his own good works, almsgivings, church-goings, church-buildings. 

From The Good News of God by Charles Kingsley

It prescribes prayers, almsgivings, fasting, pilgrimages, and ablutions, besides various rules to be observed in all the domestic and social relations.

From Life of Schamyl And Narrative of the Circassian War of Independence Against Russia by John Milton Mackie