philanthropist

American  

[fi-lan-thruh-pist] / fɪˈlæn θrə pɪst /

noun

1. a person, typically a wealthy one, who has an altruistic concern for human welfare and shows it by donating money, property, time, or work to aid people in need or to support institutions that serve the public.

   In his private life he was a major philanthropist who spent over $2 billion on causes ranging from education to healthcare.

---

Other Word Forms

• philanthropistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of philanthropist

First recorded in 1720–30; philanthrop(y) + -ist

Explanation

A philanthropist is a person who gives money or gifts to charities, or helps needy people in other ways. Famous examples include Andrew Carnegie and Bill & Melinda Gates. In English, the -ist suffix describes a person who does a particular action. A philanthropist practices philanthropy. Philanthropists are wealthy people with a generous nature and a concern for human welfare. Philanthropy is from Late Latin philanthrōpia, from Greek, from philanthrōpos "humane, kind," from the prefix phil- plus anthrōpos "man, mankind."

Example Sentences

He was a sailor, a conservationist who was one of the largest U.S. landowners, and a major philanthropist who helped set a model for generous giving by billionaires.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

The mustached southerner, yachting enthusiast and philanthropist, whose empire also included sports clubs, had been suffering from the degenerative disease Lewy Body Dementia.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

The Goldrich is named in honor of the late Jona Goldrich, an L.A.-based Jewish Holocaust survivor, philanthropist, real estate developer and co-founder of Holocaust Museum LA.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

Indeed, Griffin’s new unit sits alongside the apartment that he purchased for $45 million from billionaire philanthropist Julia Koch—widow of billionaire businessman David Koch—in an off-market deal in 2025.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Remembering, her old customers picture her as philanthropist, medical authority, bouncer, and poetess of the bodily emotions without being involved with them.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• benefactor
• contributor
• donor
• patron