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noun Uncommon

Samaritan

suh-MA-rih-tuhn

Samaritan (noun) means a kind person who helps someone in trouble, especially a stranger (from the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan). Example: “A passing samaritan stopped to help change her flat tyre.”

noun
1
A kind person who helps someone in trouble, especially a stranger (from the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan).
"A passing samaritan stopped to help change her flat tyre."

How to use Samaritan

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who selflessly helps a stranger in need.

Common mistake

Usually appears as "Good Samaritan" (capitalized) in this sense; lowercase "samaritan" refers to a historical inhabitant of Samaria.

Common pairings
good samaritan a passing samaritan

Word forms

Samaritans plural, samaritans plural

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A passing _____ stopped to help change her flat tyre.

Etymology

From the biblical parable in Luke 10, in which a traveller from Samaria helps an injured stranger that others had ignored.

Rhymes for Samaritan

See all rhymes for Samaritan →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Samaritan” mean?

The word “Samaritan” means a kind person who helps someone in trouble, especially a stranger (from the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan). In plain terms, someone who selflessly helps a stranger in need.

How do you pronounce “Samaritan”?

“Samaritan” is pronounced suh-MA-rih-tuhn (/səˈmɛɹɪtən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Samaritan” in a sentence?

Here is “Samaritan” used in a sentence: “A passing samaritan stopped to help change her flat tyre.”

What part of speech is “Samaritan”?

“Samaritan” is a noun.

Is “Samaritan” a common word?

“Samaritan” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial