adj
Common
charitable
CHA-rih-tuh-buhl
Charitable (adj) means Generous in giving help or money to those in need. Example: “She is a charitable woman who often buys meals for people in need.”
adj
1
Generous in giving help or money to those in need.
"She is a charitable woman who often buys meals for people in need."
"The charitable trust gives grants to young musicians every year."
"The company made a charitable donation to the local hospital."
2
Kind and forgiving in one's judgement of others.
"Try to be charitable towards him, because he has had a hard year."
"A more charitable reading of her note shows she meant no harm."
"It's hard to take a charitable view of his behaviour last night."
How to use charitable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGenerous towards others, either with money or with kindness of judgement.
Common pairings
charitable donation
charitable organisation
a charitable view
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more charitable
- Superlative
- most charitable
Fill the gap
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She is a _____ woman who often buys meals for people in need.
Etymology
From Old French charitable, from charité ("charity").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
uncharitable
Related words
Rhymes for charitable
See all rhymes for charitable →Frequently asked questions
What does “charitable” mean?
The word “charitable” means generous in giving help or money to those in need. In plain terms, generous towards others, either with money or with kindness of judgement.
How do you pronounce “charitable”?
“Charitable” is pronounced CHA-rih-tuh-buhl (/ˈt͡ʃæɹətəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “charitable” in a sentence?
Here is “charitable” used in a sentence: “The company made a charitable donation to the local hospital.”
What is another word for “charitable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “charitable” include eleemosynary.
What part of speech is “charitable”?
“Charitable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “charitable” come from?
The word “charitable” comes from Old French. From Old French charitable, from charité ("charity").
Is “charitable” a common word?
“Charitable” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “charitable” have?
“Charitable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: generous in giving help or money to those in need.
What is the difference between "charitable" and "generous"?
"Generous" means willing to give freely, whether money, time, or praise, to anyone. "Charitable" more specifically implies giving help or money to those in need, and it can also describe a kind, forgiving attitude toward other people.
What is the difference between "charitable" and "philanthropic"?
Both describe giving to help others, but "philanthropic" usually refers to large-scale, organised giving, often by wealthy individuals or foundations. "Charitable" is broader and can describe any generosity toward those in need, from a small personal gift to the work of a registered charity.
What words commonly follow "charitable"?
"Charitable" frequently pairs with nouns such as "donation", "organisation", "foundation", "trust", "cause", "giving", and "work". The phrase "charitable status" refers to the official recognition that lets an organisation operate as a charity.
