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.
Whether through her body of work or quieter philanthropic contributions, Parton made it clear she wanted the best for humankind.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
After Jobs eliminated the company’s philanthropic initiatives to cut costs, Cook revived corporate giving programs and expanded environmental targets.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
He noted that while her star grew, she "never forgot where she came from" and always gave back through her philanthropic efforts.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“I’m optimistic that the philanthropic community and ticket buyers will support us.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
If things got worse in Europe, philanthropic spending would grind to a halt in the United States; even if the war clouds dispelled, millions of dollars would shift to Europe for economic reconstruction.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
