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

Rose was a real estate developer and philanthropist who in 1978 founded The Georgetown Company, which oversaw a renovation of New York's Madison Square Garden and the development of the IAC Building in Manhattan, according to his obituary. —Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Harris’ entry could spell bad news for the current field of Democrats, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, former state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and businessman and philanthropist Stephen Cloobeck. —Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025

From her breakout role in ‘Fame’ to her work as a director and philanthropist, Debbie Allen has spent decades using her creativity to uplift and inspire. —Okla Jones, Essence, 17 Feb. 2025

And earlier this year, Azerbaijan began its sham trials of Armenian political prisoners, including philanthropist and former state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan, despite pleas of their innocence from human rights activists and legal scholars. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see philanthropy

First Known Use

circa 1736, in the meaning defined above