plural alms
1
: something (such as money or food) given freely to relieve the poor
distributing alms to the needy
2
archaic
: charity
alms·giv·ing
ˈä(l)mz-ˌgi-viŋ 
: the giving of alms especially as an habitual practice
remarkably generous in his almsgiving
almsgiver
noun
plural almsgivers
In religious terms, begging continued to be valued as a vocation; the poor had an important soteriological function as intercessors for almsgivers.
—
Carter Lindberg, The European Reformations, 2010
Carter Lindberg, The European Reformations, 2010
Examples of alms in a Sentence
Noun (1)
believes that giving alms to the poor is a moral duty
Recent Examples on the Web
Juliana Labianca, Good Housekeeping, 26 Jan. 2023
Not that the alms offered up by President Biden and European leaders will do much good.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2022
Her public life was defined by these duties, some seemingly trivial, such as handing out symbolic alms, others mantled with pomp and pageantry — the opening of Parliament or the hosting of a state dinner.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022
In 2007, amid rising fuel prices and yet another economic crisis, Buddhist monks led mass protests in Yangon and other cities, overturning their alms bowls to signal disenchantment with the military junta.
—Hannah Beech, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for alms
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Noun
Those celebrating also pay zakat al-fitr, an alms-tax that goes towards those in need.
—Juliana Labianca, Good Housekeeping, 26 Jan. 2023
Not that the alms offered up by President Biden and European leaders will do much good.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2022
Her public life was defined by these duties, some seemingly trivial, such as handing out symbolic alms, others mantled with pomp and pageantry — the opening of Parliament or the hosting of a state dinner.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022
In 2007, amid rising fuel prices and yet another economic crisis, Buddhist monks led mass protests in Yangon and other cities, overturning their alms bowls to signal disenchantment with the military junta.
—Hannah Beech, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for alms
Cite this Entry
“Alms.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alms. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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