Samaritan

noun

Sa·​mar·​i·​tan sə-ˈmer-ə-tən 

1

: a native or inhabitant of Samaria

2

[from the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30–37] : a person who is generous in helping those in distress

samaritan adjective often capitalized

Examples of Samaritan in a Sentence

A Samaritan called a tow truck for us.

Recent Examples on the Web

As many across the area still don’t have running water, Samaritan’s Purse engineers have also installed three community water filtration systems that have produced over 270,000 liters of clean water. —Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Oct. 2024

Witnesses who spoke with the news station said a Good Samaritan attempted to give the child CPR until first responders arrived, however, the little girl died from her injuries after being transported to a hospital. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024

On Saturday, the fox — which was hungry and dehydrated — was rescued near Willamette Park by a good Samaritan and brought to the wildlife care center run by the Bird Alliance of Oregon. —Kale Williams, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024

Over the weekend, a group from Samaritan’s Purse—an evangelical Christian aid organization run by the Graham family—passed through. —Wes Siler, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin samaritanus, noun & adjective, from Greek samaritēs inhabitant of Samaria, from Samaria

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Samaritan

• Good Samaritan