Samaritan

noun

Sa·​mar·​i·​tan sə-ˈmer-ə-tən 

1

: a native or inhabitant of Samaria

2

[from the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30–37] : a person who is generous in helping those in distress

samaritan adjective often capitalized

Examples of Samaritan in a Sentence

A Samaritan called a tow truck for us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Another disappeared into the crowd for a few alarming moments before being returned by a good Samaritan. —Lynda Lin Grigsby, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

The attack only stopped when a good Samaritan intervened, pulling Solis off the victim and disarming him, according to prosecutors. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025

The Good Samaritan Free Health Center opened in 2011 and is 100% philanthropically funded. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

All proceeds benefit the Kilgore Samaritan Fund to provide counseling services to all members of the community regardless of their ability to pay. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin samaritanus, noun & adjective, from Greek samaritēs inhabitant of Samaria, from Samaria

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing Samaritan

• Good Samaritan

Rhymes for Samaritan

• cytokeratin
• ferritin
• keratin