tithe
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for tithe, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A payment of one tenth of a person's income given to a church, traditionally as a religious obligation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A payment of one tenth of a person's income given to a church, traditionally as a religious obligation.
“Members are encouraged to give a tithe of their earnings each month.”
2. verb
To pay a tenth of your income to a church, or to give regularly in this way.
“They have tithed to the same congregation for thirty years.”
How to use tithe
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Mainly religious, especially in Christian and particularly evangelical contexts. The historical land-tax sense appears in history writing and in place names such as tithe barn.
Etymology
From Old English teogotha, meaning 'tenth'.
Full origin of tithe →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tithe and an offering?
A tithe is a fixed proportion, traditionally ten per cent of income, understood as an obligation. An offering is anything given beyond that, freely and in any amount. Churches often list them as separate lines on a giving form.
Is tithing ten per cent before or after tax?
There is no universal rule, and practice varies by denomination and individual. Some tithe on gross income and some on take-home pay; churches that teach tithing usually leave the choice to the giver.
How is tithe pronounced?
It rhymes with scythe and writhe: a long i and a voiced th at the end. It does not rhyme with with or myth.