benevolence

noun

be·​nev·​o·​lence bə-ˈnev-lən(t)s How to pronounce benevolence (audio)
-ˈne-və-
1
: disposition to do good
a king known for his benevolence
2
a
: an act of kindness
b
: a generous gift
3
: a compulsory contribution or tax levied by certain English kings with no other authority than the claim of prerogative (see prerogative sense 1b)

Did you know?

Part of benevolence comes from the Latin root meaning "wish". The novels of Charles Dickens often include a benevolent figure who rescues the main characters at some point--Mr. Brownlow in Oliver Twist, Abel Magwitch in Great Expectations, Mr. Jarndyce in Bleak House, Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. To be benevolent, it helps to have money, but it's not necessary; kind assistance of a nonfinancial sort may turn out to be lifesaving benevolence as well.

Examples of benevolence in a Sentence

self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily
Recent Examples on the Web Bob Moore, founder of the Bob’s Red Mill brand known for its whole grain products and benevolence towards employees, died on Saturday at 94. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 Living on the outskirts of Accra, Ghana’s capital, C.M. took on menial jobs and relied on the benevolence of advocates for deported asylum seekers. Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2024 Although by no means marked with the dark brooding quality of many a winter sky, these clouds kept the sun from providing maximum thermal benevolence. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2023 In the work of both Molière and Larry David, the comedy lies in the main character’s extreme self-awareness about the fictitious nature of the benevolence. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 Once migrants arrive, however, their basic needs are testing the benevolence and bandwidth of local governments, nonprofits, and strangers. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Oct. 2023 But trust can also spring from our understanding of the integrity and benevolence of the person involved. Laila Marouf, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 But long before Scott’s benevolence, Kroc developed her own deeply personal and unorthodox brand of giving. Lisa Napoli, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2023 The American leaders who developed an international system out of the ashes of World War II were not driven by benevolence; they were guided by an aggressive pursuit of national interests. Ryan Hass, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benevolence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see benevolent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of benevolence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near benevolence

Cite this Entry

“Benevolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benevolence. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

benevolence

noun
be·​nev·​o·​lence bə-ˈnev(-ə)-lən(t)s How to pronounce benevolence (audio)

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