What does philanthropy mean?
Word: Philanthropy
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Philanthropy means the giving of money or time to help other people, usually on a large scale.
Synonyms: benevolence
How do you spell philanthropy?
Syllables: phi - lan - thro - py
Tricky part: After the n comes the hard stretch: pupils thinking of trophy swap the letters there and lose the h.
Watch out for: philantrophy, philanthrophy, phillanthropy
Memory tip: The people part of this word is spelt just as it is in anthropology, the study of people, so the h stays beside the t.
Philanthropy in a sentence
Example 1: The Tatas are known across India for their philanthropy.
Example 2: Philanthropy need not mean millions; Meena gives two hours a week to a reading club.
Example 3: The scholarship began as one family's philanthropy and now helps forty students a year.
Fun Fact
Its Greek source means love of humankind, so the word was about caring for people long before it had anything to do with large cheques.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are misspelt. Choose the meaning of the one spelt correctly.
1. comemorate 2. philanthropy 3. benefacter 4. anonimous
a) to honour the memory of a person or event
b) generous support given to good causes by those with means
c) a person who gives money to help another
d) having a name that is not known
Show answer
b) generous support given to good causes by those with means. Philanthropy is the sound spelling; the others should read benefactor, commemorate and anonymous.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
ph_lanthrop_
a) e, y
b) i, y
c) i, e
d) y, i
Show answer
b) i, y. The opening has the vowel of lip, and the noun closes in the same way as charity.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
The town's new sports ground exists thanks to the quiet hopparnhltyi of one retired engineer.
a) photography
b) philanthropy
c) phraseology
d) philosophy
Show answer
b) philanthropy. The letters include an n and a t, which rules out the words built round an s or a g.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word philanthropy as used in the sentence:
Rukmini's philanthropy paid for new desks in every village school in the district.
a) selfishness
b) generosity
c) humanity
d) goodwill
Show answer
a) selfishness. Paying for desks shows concern for others, and the opposite of that is thinking only of yourself.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which act is the clearest example of philanthropy?
a) a shopkeeper counting out change for a customer
b) a farmer selling his mangoes at the market
c) a banker lending money to a local builder
d) a businesswoman paying for a free public library
Show answer
d) a businesswoman paying for a free public library
2. A newspaper praises a company for its philanthropy. What has it probably done?
a) moved its head office to a bigger city
b) raised the price of its most popular product
c) won a large new contract from abroad
d) set aside funds to build a park for the town
Show answer
d) set aside funds to build a park for the town
