philanthropy
fuh-LAN-thruh-pee
/fɪˈlænθrəpi/
The desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially through the generous donation of money, time, and resources to good causes.
Implies systematic, organized charitable effort intended to solve social problems, rather than simple casual kindness.
The story behind the word. First appearing in Aeschylus's tragedy 'Prometheus Bound' to describe Titan Prometheus's love for humanity when he gave them fire, philanthropy entered English in the 17th century to describe noble humanitarian actions.
Word relationships
- benevolence: Benevolence describes an attitude of goodwill, whereas philanthropy refers to active, structured charitable giving.
- charity: Charity often focuses on immediate relief of suffering, while philanthropy aims to address root causes of human problems.
- misanthropy: Misanthropy is a hatred or general distrust of humankind.
Commonly confused with
- Altruism: Altruism is the unselfish principle of caring for others, while philanthropy is the institutional act of donating funds or effort.
Word family
- philanthropic (adjective): Charitable or benevolent.
- philanthropist (noun): A person who seeks to promote human welfare through giving.
Collocations
- corporate philanthropy
- engage in philanthropy
- philanthropy event
- charitable philanthropy
Example sentences
- "Philanthropy remains a cornerstone of Greek life, with organizations dedicating hundreds of hours to charitable service each year." Greek life mission
- "The industrialist turned his focus toward medical philanthropy after retiring from executive management." Corporate ethics
Memory hook
PHIL (love) + ANTHRO (mankind) = love for mankind. Loving mankind through giving
When not to use
Do not use for minor individual favors, such as lending a friend a pen.
Fun facts
- In modern Greek life, every national fraternity and sorority has a designated official philanthropy partner, such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Special Olympics.
Related words
Explore more words
philanthropic, philanthropist, benevolent, charitable, compassion, altruism
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