Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Samaritan

noun
Sa·mar·i·tan | \ sə-ˈmer-ə-tən \

Definition of Samaritan 

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

Other Words from Samaritan Example Sentences Learn More about Samaritan

Keep scrolling for more

Other words from Samaritan

samaritan adjective often capitalized

Examples of Samaritan in a Sentence

A Samaritan called a tow truck for us.

First Known Use of Samaritan

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

History and Etymology for Samaritan

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Samaritan

Dictionary Entries near Samaritan

Samaria

samariform

Samarinda

Samaritan

Samaritanism

samarium

Samar-Leyte

Statistics for Samaritan

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for Samaritan

The first known use of Samaritan was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

More from Merriam-Webster on Samaritan

Nglish: Translation of Samaritan for Spanish Speakers

Comments on Samaritan

What made you want to look up Samaritan? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

secrete

to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games