alms

noun

\ ˈä(l)mz

How to pronounce alms (audio)

\

plural alms

Definition of alms

1 : something (such as money or food) given freely to relieve the poor distributing alms to the needy

2 archaic : charity

Other Words from alms Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about alms

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of alms in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In all three, refraining from eating is intimately connected with an additional focus on prayer, and the practice of assisting the poor by giving alms or donating food. — Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, "What are the origins of Lent?," 22 Feb. 2021 Fewer in-person rituals meant fewer people dropping alms in the collection basket, which priests depended on to pay bills and buy groceries. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, "With his mentors dying, a young Catholic priest tries to save his diocese from COVID-19," 14 Feb. 2021 Monday’s coup was staged before dawn, when the roosters had not yet crowed and the monks had not set forth, barefoot, for their morning alms. — New York Times, "To Fight or Hide: Fear Grips Myanmar With Military Back in Charge," 6 Feb. 2021 Known for serving the poor, Saint Stephen is traditionally celebrated with charity and the distribution of alms. — Erin Blakemore, History & Culture, "Why historians disagree about the origins of Boxing Day, the post-Christmas British holiday," 21 Dec. 2020 Every day, the monk walked down the mountain asking for alms. — Clara Wang, refinery29.com, "For My Asian Mother, Feeding Me “Everything” Was An Act Of Love," 2 Dec. 2020 Another theory, according to History.com, is that the name arose from alms boxes placed in churches for the collection of donations for those in need. — Samantha Lawyer, Woman's Day, "The History of Boxing Day, Because Most People Don't Know What It Is," 13 Nov. 2020 The group charges vehicles transporting goods, demands that businesses pay a monthly fee and forcibly collects zakat, the annual alms that observant Muslims are expected to pay. — Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, "Feared Shabab Exploit Somali Banking and Invest in Real Estate, U.N. Says," 11 Oct. 2020 In the early church, public confession was the norm, and penance involved public displays of reform, such as fasting, alms-giving and prayer. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "‘I confess': should the ‘seal of the confessional’ protect pedophiles?," 4 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alms.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about alms

Dictionary Entries near alms

almost uncirculated

Statistics for alms

Last Updated

9 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Alms.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alms. Accessed 18 Apr. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for alms

alms

noun

English Language Learners Definition of alms

old-fashioned : money, clothes, food, and other things given to poor people

See the full definition for alms in the English Language Learners Dictionary

alms

noun

\ ˈämz

, ˈälmz \

plural alms

Kids Definition of alms

: money given to help the poor : charity

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

forfend

Listen to the pronunciation of forfend

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Anagram puzzles meet word search.

TAKE THE QUIZ