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

He said the report had found repeated instances of a "blurring of boundaries between private and charitable interests."

From BBC

The academy saluted Curtis or his tireless charitable work as a co-founder of Comic Relief, a producer of Red Nose Day and for his efforts to end world poverty through groups like Make Poverty History.

From Los Angeles Times

DAFs often have lower fees than other charitable vehicles, ensuring that a larger portion of each donation goes directly to the cause.

From Salon

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

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