DictionaryAI

charity

noun
CHAIR-uh-tee/ˈt͡ʃɛɹəti/UKCHA-ri-tee/ˈtʃæɹɪti/AUSCHA-ruh-tee/ˈt͡ʃæɹəti/

Pluralcharities (some meanings)

6 meanings of charity

Practice

  1. 1
    noununcountable
    Kindness shown by giving money, food, or help to people in need.

    Like sharing your snack with a friend who forgot to bring one.

    She gives to charity every month from her paycheck.

    Many people show charity by sharing food with the poor.

    Similargenerosity, philanthropy, benevolence, kindness

    Oppositeselfishness

  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A group set up to help people in need, often by collecting and giving away money.

    Like a team whose only goal is to help people who are struggling.

    She started a charity to help homeless families find housing.

    Several charities raised money quickly after the earthquake.

    Similarnonprofit, foundation, trust

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    Money, food, or other things given to people who need them.

    Like a warm meal left at your door when you have nothing to eat.

    The old man was too proud to accept charity from his neighbors.

    The family relied on charity to get through a hard winter.

    Similaraid, donations, handouts, relief

  4. 4
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A kind and understanding attitude toward other people.

    Like choosing to think the best of someone instead of blaming them.

    Try to treat people who annoy you with a little charity.

    He looked at their mistakes with charity instead of anger.

    Similarleniency, generosity, tolerance, kindness, compassion

    Oppositeharshness, severity, intolerance

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncolloquialPhilippinesUScountable or uncountable
    In basketball, a free shot given to a player after a foul.

    Like a free kick in soccer: a chance to score with no one stopping you.

    He stepped up and made the charity right after the foul.

    She missed the charity at the end of a close game.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 6
    nounarchaiccountable or uncountable
    In the Christian faith, love between God and people, and love among people.

    Like the warm care a parent and child feel for each other.

    Through charity, the faithful draw closer to God and to each other.

    Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.
    1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, charity means love, the deep love God and people share.

    Similaragape

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of charity apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Latin "cāritās," which reached English through Old French "charité."