charity

charity — noun

1. a group that raises money or collects goods to help people who are poor, sick, o

1.nounB1
Definition

a group that raises money or collects goods to help people who are poor, sick, or in difficulty, and does not exist to earn profits for its owners

Example

The local charity runs a food bank for families who cannot afford meals.

charity + runs + [service]

Ravi donated his old clothes to a charity that supports homeless teenagers.

collocation: donate + to + charity

Common collocations
  • a registered charity
  • a local charity
  • a cancer charity
  • a homeless charity
  • charity shop
  • charity event
  • charity worker
  • set up a charity
  • run a charity
  • donate to a charity
Synonyms
  • nonprofit

    more common in American English; broader term covering any organization not run for profit, not only those helping the needy

  • foundation

    usually a large charity set up with an initial fund, often focused on long-term projects or research

  • trust

    a charity managed by a board of trustees, often with a specific legal structure

Usage Note

Countable noun — you can say 'a charity' or refer to 'many charities'. Commonly used as a modifier before another noun (charity shop, charity event, charity work).

Common Mistakes

She works for charity at the hospital' (when referring to a specific organization).
She works for a charity at the hospital.
When referring to an organization, use the article 'a' or 'the' because charity is a countable noun in this sense.

2. money, food, clothing, or other aid that people give freely to support those who

2.nounB1
Definition

money, food, clothing, or other aid that people give freely to support those who are poor, sick, or suffering, as well as the organized system of doing this through special groups

Example

Priya gives ten percent of her salary to charity every month.

collocation: give + to + charity

All the leftover food from the wedding was given to charity.

passive: be given to charity

Common collocations
  • give to charity
  • raise money for charity
  • donate to charity
  • charity begins at home
  • in aid of charity
  • charity drive
  • charity donation
Synonyms
  • donation

    refers to a single gift of money or goods, not the overall system of giving

  • aid

    broader term covering government and institutional help; less personal than charity

  • philanthropy

    more formal; usually describes large-scale giving by wealthy individuals or foundations

  • alms

    old-fashioned; specifically money or food given to the poor, often in a religious context

Usage Note

Uncountable — do not use 'a charity' or 'charities' when referring to the general concept of giving aid. Common in the fixed phrase 'give to charity' and 'raise money for charity.'

Common Mistakes

I donated to a charity every year' (when meaning the general practice of giving).
I donate to charity every year.
When referring to the general act of giving to those in need, do not add 'a' before charity.

3. a gentle and generous attitude towards other people that makes you willing to se

3.nounC2
Definition

a gentle and generous attitude towards other people that makes you willing to see their good side rather than judge their faults harshly

Example

Yara treated the shy new students with charity, remembering her own difficult first day.

collocation: treat + with + charity

Diego spilled coffee on the report, but his boss showed charity and handed him a towel.

collocation: show charity (gentle response to a mistake)

Common collocations
  • with charity
  • in charity
  • a spirit of charity
  • treat someone with charity
  • show charity toward
  • judge with charity
Synonyms
  • benevolence

    more formal; describes a general wish to do good for others

  • compassion

    focuses on feeling sympathy for someone's suffering rather than on not judging them

  • leniency

    narrower; specifically about being less strict or harsh when judging someone

  • humanity

    broader; refers to the quality of being kind, thoughtful, and sympathetic towards others in general

Antonyms
  • cruelty

    the opposite of kindness; deliberately causing pain or suffering

  • harshness

    the opposite of gentle judgment; being severe or critical

Usage Note

Distinguish from SENSE 2 (GIVING): sense 2 refers to money or material help given to people in need, while this sense refers to a personal inner attitude of kindness and gentle judgment. Most common in formal, literary, or reflective writing.

Common Mistakes

He showed charity by giving them money' (when meaning material generosity).
He showed charity by giving them money
but this mixes sense 2 and 3. For the kindness sense: 'He showed charity by not pointing out her mistake in front of everyone.' — Make sure the context is about gentle judgment, not material help.
Idioms

charity begins at home

idiom

a saying that people should take care of their own family and close community first before helping others farther away

Before you donate to an overseas project, remember that charity begins at home — your neighbour may need help too.

His mother always told him that charity begins at home, so he spent his weekends helping his younger siblings with their studies.

Word family

  • charitable
    adjectiveB2
  • charitably
    adverbC1
  • uncharitable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Charity (uncountable, sense 2) refers broadly to the practice of giving money or help to people in need, whether through formal organizations or personal acts. A donation is a single gift — one sum of money or a bundle of clothes — given to support a cause. Aid is more formal and institutional: governments send aid after a disaster, while individuals show charity. Philanthropy suggests large-scale, strategic giving, often by wealthy individuals or foundations, and carries a formal tone. Alms is an older, more religious term for money or food given directly to beggars or the poor; it is rarely used in modern everyday English. For example: 'She gave a donation of $50 to the food bank' focuses on one gift; 'She donated to charity every month' describes an ongoing practice; 'The philanthropist's foundation grants millions to education' shows large-scale giving.

charity ↗donation ↗aid ↗philanthropyalms

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in aid of charity
  • out of charity
  • for charity
  • by charity
  • a work of charity

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Charity comes from Old French charité, which developed from Latin caritas, meaning 'dearness, love, high price.' In early English, the word carried a strong sense of Christian love for others (the virtue of loving your neighbour). Over time, the meaning narrowed from 'love and kindness toward others' to the modern focus on organised giving to people in need.