philanthropist

noun

phi·​lan·​thro·​pist fə-ˈlan(t)-thrə-pist 

: one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare : a person who practices philanthropy

Did you know?

The Greek root of philanthropy may be literally translated as "loving people." The English word can refer to general goodwill to one's fellow people, as well as to the active effort to promote the welfare of people, but in modern use it is most often used to refer specifically to the practice of giving money and time to help make life better for others. A person who practices philanthropy is called a philanthropist; the term philanthrope was formerly used with the same meaning, but it is now considered archaic.

Examples of philanthropist in a Sentence

Among his converts was Arthur Tappan, a New York textile merchant and philanthropist who sheltered and guided the development of the antislavery movement through its long early years by dint of sheer openhandedness. —Marilynne Robinson, The Death of Adam, (1998) 2005

John D. was indisputably a great philanthropist. He took care of his family first, of course; but he founded the University of Chicago in 1892, the Rockefeller Institute (now Rockefeller University) in 1901, and the Rockefeller Foundation in 1911, and made other substantial gifts along the way. —Robert M. Solow, New Republic, 23 Dec. 2002

You had to admire it and admire the man, who sat now like a benign locust, his slender insectile body swamped in a black leather chair, leaning over the desk, all smiles, a parasite disguised as a philanthropist. —Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2000

… a hundred-and-one-year-old Jewish philanthropist in Hartsdale named Henry J. Gaisman donated two and a quarter million dollars to the Archdiocese to purchase the property and preserve the integrity of the landmark. —Brendan Gill, New Yorker, 10 June 1991

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a call to action for this new cohort of captains to continue the legacy set before them by decades of philanthropists. — Melissa Stevens, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Miami hedge fund billionaire and philanthropist Ken Griffin pushed for expansion of the law and gave the charter school network $50 million for its Miami expansion. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026

Daisy Chain Fields raised $10 million that was then matched by philanthropist Melinda French Gates to bring the total to $20 million. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

The grand marshal for the 82nd annual parade was Ray Dalio, the founder and mentor of Bridgewater Associates, a philanthropist and author. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see philanthropy

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above