charitable

[ char-i-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. generous in donations or gifts to relieve the needs of indigent, ill, or helpless people, or of animals:

   a charitable man giving much money to feed people experiencing food insecurity.

   Synonyms: benevolent, bountiful, liberal, beneficent

   Antonyms: selfish

2. kindly or lenient in judging people, acts, etc.:

   charitable in his opinions of others.

   Synonyms: mild, considerate, broad-minded, merciful, lenient

   Antonyms: intolerant, severe

3. relating to or concerned with charity:

   a charitable institution.

charitable

/ ˈtʃærɪtəbəl /

adjective

1. generous in giving to the needy
2. kind or lenient in one's attitude towards others
3. concerned with or involving charity

Derived Forms

• ˈcharitably, adverb
• ˈcharitableness, noun

Other Words From

• chari·ta·ble·ness noun
• chari·ta·bly adverb
• non·chari·ta·ble adjective
• non·chari·ta·ble·ness noun
• non·chari·ta·bly adverb
• over·chari·ta·ble adjective
• over·chari·ta·ble·ness noun
• over·chari·ta·bly adverb
• pseudo·chari·ta·ble adjective
• pseudo·chari·ta·bly adverb
• quasi-chari·ta·ble adjective
• quasi-chari·ta·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of charitable¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to charit(e) charity + -able -able

Synonym Study

See generous.

Example Sentences

The charitable foundation represents the late British businessman, who collected the items in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and China, before his death in 1964.

From BBC

In the last four decades, it's thought the Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised more than £140m in total.

From BBC

Anolik is less charitable about Babitz’s subsequent work, which she considers to be attenuated and strained, lacking the buzzy exuberance of “Slow Days, Fast Company.”

From Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom agreed to pay a $13,000 fine Friday for failing to report on time over a dozen charitable payments made at his request by notable foundations and businesses, including Microsoft, Amazon and T-Mobile, between 2018 and 2024.

From Los Angeles Times

It is common for elected officials to ask companies to make charitable donations to specific organizations, and such payments are not subject to the limits that apply to direct campaign donations.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• considerate
• forgiving
• gracious
• magnanimous
• thoughtful
• tolerant