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.
The Gallt-y-bere purchase was made possible by a philanthropic loan as well as "generous support" from thousands of people responding to its fundraising appeal, it added.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Chao, who was on a previously scheduled philanthropic trip, met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng before eventually issuing a statement explaining that McConnell’s condition “did not warrant an immediate return” to the United States.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
And I greatly admire his dedication to maintaining his physical abilities throughout the years and his philanthropic pursuits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026
By then, he was in his 80s and could have poured his philanthropic energy into trying anything once.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
As in cultural and philanthropic institutions from San Francisco to New York City, the old money has made room at the table for the new money to replenish the coffers.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
