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adj Common

charitable

CHA-rih-tuh-buhl

Charitable (adj) means Generous in giving help or money to those in need. Example: “The company made a charitable donation to the local hospital.”

adj
1
Generous in giving help or money to those in need.
"The company made a charitable donation to the local hospital."
2
Kind and forgiving in one's judgement of others.
"It's hard to take a charitable view of his behaviour last night."

How to use charitable

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGenerous towards others, either with money or with kindness of judgement.

Common pairings
charitable donation charitable organisation a charitable view

Word forms

more charitable comparative, most charitable superlative

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The company made a _____ donation to the local hospital.

Etymology

From Old French charitable, from charité ("charity").

Origin: Old French

Related words

Rhymes for charitable

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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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial