charitable

adjective

char·​i·​ta·​ble ˈcher-ə-tə-bəl 

ˈcha-rə-

1

: full of love for and goodwill toward others : benevolent

2

a

: liberal in benefactions to the needy : generous

b

: of or relating to charity

charitable institutions

3

: merciful or kind in judging others : lenient

charitableness noun

charitably

ˈcher-ə-tə-blē 

ˈcha-rə-

adverb

Synonyms of charitable

• philanthropic
• humanitarian
• benevolent

Examples of charitable in a Sentence

She makes a charitable donation every year.

He performs charitable work to help the poor.

They give money to charitable causes.

She has tried to be charitable about her sister's problems.

Half of the class has a chance at passing the test, and that is a charitable estimate.

Recent Examples on the Web

The charitable aspect drew praise from some fans, as well as Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase and guard Veronica Burton. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026

Retirement, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), charitable giving, Roth conversions, and changes in income can all create opportunities to revisit how investments are positioned across account types. — David Kudla, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Between family moments, public appearances, and charitable engagements, this retrospective offers a glimpse into a particularly emotional summer for the Prince and Princess of Wales. — Mathilde Engelmann, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026

In between attending sporting events — like Royal Ascot and Wimbledon — and hosting charitable events, the couple finds time for family. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing charitable

• charitable gift

Rhymes for charitable

• uncharitable

Kids Definition

charitable

adjective

char·​i·​ta·​ble ˈchar-ət-ə-bəl 

1

: freely giving money or help to poor and needy persons : generous

2

: given for the needy : of service to the needy

charitable funds

a charitable institution

3

: kindly in judging other people

charitableness noun

charitably

-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

charitable

adjective

char·​i·​ta·​ble

: of or relating to charity

charitable contributions