tithe

1 of 2

noun

ˈtīt͟h 

1

: a tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax especially for the support of a religious establishment

2

: the obligation represented by individual tithes

3

: tenth

broadly : a small part

4

: a small tax or levy

tithe

2 of 2

verb

tithed; tithing

transitive verb

1

: to pay or give a tenth part of especially for the support of a religious establishment or organization

2

: to levy a tithe on

intransitive verb

: to give a tenth of one's income as a tithe

Examples of tithe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Federal fraud suit dismissed In July, a federal judge dismissed a fraud lawsuit brought by a group of former Gateway Church members, who accused the church and the Morrises of mishandling millions of dollars in church donations, or tithes. — Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

The criticism has been compounded due to the Mormon requirement that members donate 10% of their income to the church as a tithe, according to the Mormon Church’s website. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

The push coincides with an emerging Christian subculture, from churches allowing congregants to tithe with digital coins to blogs promoting bitcoin as biblically sound. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026

The tenth child of a noble family, Hildegard was tithed to the Disibodenberg, a monastery nestled between two rivers in Germany’s Rhineland‑Palatinate region, when she was born. — Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English teogotha tenth; akin to Middle Low German tegede tenth, Old English tīen ten — more at ten

Verb

Middle English, from Old English teogothian, from teogotha tenth

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for tithe

• blithe
• lithe
• scythe
• writhe
• wythe

Kids Definition

tithe

1 of 2 verb

ˈtit͟h 

tithed; tithing

: to pay or give a tithe

tither noun

tithe

2 of 2 noun

: a tenth part (as of one's income) given especially as a contribution to a church

Etymology

Verb

Old English teogothian "to give a tenth part," from teogotha "tenth"