philanthropy
[ fi-lan-thruh-pee ]
/ fɪˈlæn θrə pi /
noun, plural phi·lan·thro·pies.
altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons, by endowment of institutions of learning and hospitals, and by generosity to other socially useful purposes.
the activity of donating to such persons or purposes in this way: to devote one's later years to philanthropy.
a particular act, form, or instance of this activity: The art museum was their favorite philanthropy.
an organization devoted to helping needy persons or to other socially useful purposes.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
philandering, philanthrope, philanthropic, philanthropist, philanthropize, philanthropy, philatelist, philately, philby, philby, kim, philem.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for philanthropy
British Dictionary definitions for philanthropy
philanthropy
/ (fɪˈlænθrəpɪ) /
noun plural -pies
the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions
love of mankind in general
Derived Formsphilanthropist or philanthrope (ˈfɪlənˌθrəʊp), noun
Word Origin for philanthropy
C17: from Late Latin philanthrōpia, from Greek: love of mankind, from philos loving + anthrōpos man
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for philanthropy
philanthropy
c.1600, from Late Latin philanthropia, from Greek philanthropia "kindliness, humanity, benevolence, love to mankind" (from gods, men, or things), from philanthropos (adj.) "loving mankind, useful to man," from phil- "loving" (see philo-) + anthropos "mankind" (see anthropo-). Originally in English in the Late Latin form; modern spelling attested from 1620s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper