What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
samaritan
Example
The samaritan stopped to help the injured cyclist on the side of the road. [samaritan: noun]
Example
She acted like a good samaritan by donating her time and resources to help the homeless. [good samaritan: adjective]
philanthropist
Example
The wealthy businessman was known for his philanthropy, donating millions to various charities. [philanthropy: noun]
Example
She became a philanthropist after retiring from her successful career, dedicating her time and resources to help those in need. [philanthropist: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Samaritan is less commonly used than philanthropist in everyday language. Philanthropist is often associated with wealthy individuals or large-scale charitable organizations, while samaritan is more commonly used to describe individual acts of kindness or compassion.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between samaritan and philanthropist?
Philanthropist is generally considered more formal than samaritan, as it is often associated with professional or institutionalized forms of charity or social responsibility.
