definitions

benevolence

[ buh-nev-uh-luhns ]
/ bəˈnɛv ə ləns /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR benevolence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness: to be filled with benevolence toward one's fellow creatures.
an act of kindness; a charitable gift.
English History. a forced contribution to the sovereign.

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RELATED WORDS

compassion, generosity, altruism, kindness, gift, friendliness, amity, sympathy, goodness, feeling, friendship, humanity, comity

Nearby words

benefit society, benelux, benemid, benempt, benevento, benevolence, benevolent, benevolent and protective order of elks, benevolent sexism, beneš, benfleet

Origin of benevolence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word benevolentia. See benevolent, -ence

Related forms

non·be·nev·o·lence, nounsu·per·be·nev·o·lence, nounun·be·nev·o·lence, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for benevolence

British Dictionary definitions for benevolence

benevolence

/ (bɪˈnɛvələns) /

noun

inclination or tendency to help or do good to others; charity
an act of kindness
(in the Middle Ages) a forced loan or contribution exacted by English kings from their nobility and subjects
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012