What does kindness mean?
Kindness is the quality of being benevolent, considerate, compassionate, and generous toward other people. It can describe a general disposition, as in someone who is known for their kindness, or a specific considerate act, such as offering help, returning a lost item, or speaking gently to someone who is distressed. The word is common in everyday English and usually carries a positive, approving connotation, although a kindness may occasionally be described as ironic when an action causes unintended hurt. It appears in expressions such as “acts of kindness” and “show kindness.” Related forms include the adverb “kindly” and the adjective “unkindly.” The word is useful because it names both a moral quality and the practical gestures through which care for others is expressed.
nounThe quality of being kind, considerate, and generous toward other people. It can also refer to a kind or charitable act.
- Benevolent, considerate, or compassionate behavior toward other people.
- A kind, charitable, or considerate act.
"She showed kindness to the stranger by offering him food and a place to rest."
"The teacher treated every student with patience and kindness."
"He returned the lost wallet as a kindness to its owner."
The plural is used for multiple considerate or charitable acts, as well as for instances of kind behavior.
"The shelter relies on many small kindnesses from people in the community."
The word kindness turns an adjective into a quality that can be seen in action, as in a kindness shown to someone who needs it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kindness come from?
Kindness developed from the adjective kind, meaning gentle, friendly, or humane, together with the Old English-derived suffix -ness, which forms a noun indicating a quality or state. The adjective kind ultimately belongs to a Germanic family of words related to Old English gecynd, “nature,” “kind,” or “birth,” and to cognates such as kin and kindred. The noun kindness has long been used for humane or considerate behavior, and its meaning has broadened over time to include charitable acts.
Related word forms
How kindness is actually used
Kindness is generally neutral or positive in tone. It can describe a compassionate disposition, but in the singular with a possessor it often refers to a considerate act, as in “a kindness” meaning a gesture of goodwill.
Easily confused with kindness
Kind is an adjective describing a person, thing, or action, while kindness is the noun for the quality of being considerate or generous.