philanthropist

noun

phi·​lan·​thro·​pist fə-ˈlan(t)-thrə-pist 

: one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare : a person who practices philanthropy

Did you know?

The Greek root of philanthropy may be literally translated as "loving people." The English word can refer to general goodwill to one's fellow people, as well as to the active effort to promote the welfare of people, but in modern use it is most often used to refer specifically to the practice of giving money and time to help make life better for others. A person who practices philanthropy is called a philanthropist; the term philanthrope was formerly used with the same meaning, but it is now considered archaic.

Examples of philanthropist in a Sentence

Among his converts was Arthur Tappan, a New York textile merchant and philanthropist who sheltered and guided the development of the antislavery movement through its long early years by dint of sheer openhandedness. —Marilynne Robinson, The Death of Adam, (1998) 2005

John D. was indisputably a great philanthropist. He took care of his family first, of course; but he founded the University of Chicago in 1892, the Rockefeller Institute (now Rockefeller University) in 1901, and the Rockefeller Foundation in 1911, and made other substantial gifts along the way. —Robert M. Solow, New Republic, 23 Dec. 2002

You had to admire it and admire the man, who sat now like a benign locust, his slender insectile body swamped in a black leather chair, leaning over the desk, all smiles, a parasite disguised as a philanthropist. —Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2000

… a hundred-and-one-year-old Jewish philanthropist in Hartsdale named Henry J. Gaisman donated two and a quarter million dollars to the Archdiocese to purchase the property and preserve the integrity of the landmark. —Brendan Gill, New Yorker, 10 June 1991

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps an introduction to a philanthropist? —Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026

Enter philanthropist Bill Gates, whose recent memo, issued ahead of the COP30 climate summit, calls for a strategic pivot. —Bjorn Lomborg, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026

For a wider reach, Harrods also launched a festive campaign starring entrepreneur and philanthropist Laurinda Ho from one of Macao’s most influential families. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026

Milwaukee-area philanthropists Barri and Dave Drury have made a $10 million gift to Children's Wisconsin to support pediatric research, one of the largest donations for research the health system has received. —Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see philanthropy

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above