generosity

"Generosity" is a beautiful word that describes a quality people can have. It has a couple of closely related meanings, all centered around the idea of giving freely and kindly.

1nounwillingness to give

When someone is happy to give their time, money, or things to others without expecting anything back, that quality is called generosity. Think of a friend who always offers to help you move, pays for your coffee, or shares what they have — that is generosity in action.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

The generosity of the local community helped rebuild the school after the fire.

She showed great generosity by donating half of her salary to charity.

His generosity meant that no one at the table went hungry.

2nounfigurativelargeness or abundance

Generosity can also describe the quality of something being large, plentiful, or more than enough. You are not talking about a person's character here, but about the size or amount of something — like a generous portion of food at a restaurant.

everyday language · Modern, slightly more formal · figurative

The generosity of the harvest surprised the farmers that year.

Guests were amazed by the generosity of the portions served at the restaurant.

The generosity of the landscape — wide open fields as far as the eye could see — took her breath away.

3nounfigurativekindness of spirit

Sometimes generosity goes beyond giving things — it describes a kind, open, and forgiving attitude toward others. For example, when someone chooses to see the best in people or forgives easily, you can say they have generosity of spirit.

everyday language, literature · Modern, slightly formal · figurative

It takes real generosity to forgive someone who has hurt you.

She approached every disagreement with generosity, always trying to understand the other person's point of view.

His generosity of spirit made him one of the most loved teachers in the school.