philanthropy

[ fi-lan-thruh-pee ]

noun

, plural phi·lan·thro·pies.

1. 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.
2. the activity of donating to such persons or purposes in this way:

   to devote one's later years to philanthropy.

3. a particular act, form, or instance of this activity:

   The art museum was their favorite philanthropy.

4. an organization devoted to helping needy persons or to other socially useful purposes.

philanthropy

/ ˈfɪlənˌθrəʊp; fɪˈlænθrəpɪ /

noun

1. the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions
2. love of mankind in general

Derived Forms

• phiˈlanthropist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of philanthropy¹

First recorded in 1600–10; earlier philanthropia, from Late Latin, from Greek philanthrōpía “benevolence, humane feeling”; phil-, anthropo-, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of philanthropy¹

C17: from Late Latin philanthrōpia, from Greek: love of mankind, from philos loving + anthrōpos man

Related Words

• charity
• generosity