Alms

/ɑːmz/

Meaning & Definition

noun

Money or goods given to the poor as a charitable donation.

The wealthy man devoted a portion of his income to alms for the needy.

Charity or philanthropic aid given to alleviate poverty.

Many religious organizations collect alms to support their missions.

The practice of giving to the less fortunate, especially in a religious context.

During the holy month, it is customary to distribute alms to the impoverished.

Middle English, from Old English 'ælmesse', from Latin 'eleemosyna', from Greek 'eleemosynē', meaning 'pity'.

giving alms

The act of donating to those in need.

alms for the poor

Refers specifically to donations made to assist impoverished individuals.

charity

The voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money or goods, to those in need.

philanthropy

The desire to promote the welfare of others, often expressed by the donation of money to good causes.

benevolence

The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.

Spare change given informally to someone in need.

He just tossed some alms to the homeless guy outside the store.

A token donation that doesn't significantly impact the giver's finances.

She felt that her $5 was just a few alms compared to what he actually needed.