| Noun | 1. | charity - a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)foundation - an institution supported by an endowment philanthropic foundation - a foundation that provides funds for science or art or education or religion or relief from disease etc. private foundation - a charity that does not receive a major part of its support from the public public charity - a charity that is deemed to receive the major part of its support from the public (rather than from a small group of individuals) | |
| 2. | charity - a kindly and lenient attitude toward peoplebenevolence - an inclination to do kind or charitable acts | |
| 3. | charity - an activity or gift that benefits the public at largehandout - giving money or food or clothing to a needy person zakat - the fourth pillar of Islam is almsgiving as an act of worship; "the zakat is earmarked for the poor and disabled" | |
| 4. | charity - pinnate-leaved European perennial having bright blue or white flowerspolemonium - any plant of the genus Polemonium; most are low-growing often foul-smelling plants of temperate to arctic regions | |
| 5. | charity - an institution set up to provide help to the needycommunity chest - a charity supported by individual subscriptions; defrays the demands on a community for social welfare | |