Entry Word: philanthropy

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <among the industrialistʼs philanthropies was a college scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city> — see contribution
2 the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy <he was so dedicated to philanthropy that he had little money left for himself> — see charity 1
3 the quality or state of being generous <a society dowager renowned for her philanthropy> — see liberality