Generosity
/ˌdʒɛnəˈrɒsɪti/
nounB2
Definition
Generosity is the quality of being willing to give or share freely without expecting anything in return. It often means giving money, time, or help to others in a kind and open way. People who show generosity care about others and want to support them.
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See It in Action
Willingness to give or share freely and kindly
- •Her generosity helped many people during the crisis.
- •The generosity of the volunteers made the event successful.
- •Showing generosity can make you feel happy and proud.
A large amount of something given or shared
- •He accepted the gift with gratitude for its generosity.
- •The company showed generosity by donating a big sum to the charity.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "generosity" like "giving" (A1 word), but much bigger and kinder—giving without expecting a reward
- ✓Picture someone sharing their food with a hungry friend, even if they don’t have much themselves
- ✓It’s the warm feeling you get when you help someone and see them smile because of your kindness
- ✓Sounds like "generous city" → imagine a whole city full of kind people sharing freely
- ✓Think of stories where heroes help others without wanting anything back, like Santa Claus giving gifts
- ✓NOT like "buying" (which is for yourself), generosity is about giving to others freely
- ✓NOT like "lending" (expecting it back), generosity means giving without needing return
- ✓NOT like "charity" (which can be formal or organized), generosity is a personal kindness from the heart
Try Other Words
- •Kindness: being nice and helpful (Use when you want to focus on general good feelings and actions)
- •Charity: giving help, often money, to people in need (Use when talking about formal or organized giving)
- •Giving: the act of offering something to someone else (Use when describing the simple action, less about the quality or attitude)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "gener-" (related to giving or producing) + suffix "-osity" (forms nouns meaning quality or state)
- •Etymology: From Latin "generositas," meaning nobility or kindness, related to "generous"
- •Historical development: Originally connected to noble birth or spirit, later shifted to mean kindness and willingness to give
- •Modern usage: Used to describe the quality of being generous, especially in giving money, time, or help freely
Reflect & Connect
•Can generosity be shown in ways other than giving money? How?
•Why do you think people feel good when they show generosity?
Fill in the blanks
1.Her generosity ___ many people feel cared for during difficult times.
2.When someone shows generosity, they usually do not expect ___ in return.
3.Generosity is different from lending because it does not require ___.
4.The ___ of the gift surprised everyone at the charity event.
5.People often show generosity by giving their ___ or help, not just money.
6.Acts of generosity can create ___ feelings between people.
7.Generosity is a kind of ___ that helps build strong friendships.