do-gooder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Often pejorative
Quick answer
What does “do-gooder” mean?
A person who tries to help others, especially in an unskilled or naive way, but whose efforts are seen as impractical, self-righteous, or meddling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who tries to help others, especially in an unskilled or naive way, but whose efforts are seen as impractical, self-righteous, or meddling.
A person who is actively, often ostentatiously, engaged in promoting social or political causes, sometimes without practical understanding of the issues, leading to unintended negative consequences or annoyance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood similarly in both varieties. The concept is equally present in both cultures.
Connotations
Both varieties share the core pejorative connotation. In British English, it might carry a slightly stronger class-based nuance of middle-class naivety.
Frequency
Common and well-established in both. Slightly more frequent in political/social commentary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “do-gooder” in a Sentence
be/label/accuse someone + a do-gooderdo-gooder + from (an organisation)do-gooder + trying to + infinitiveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “do-gooder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's always do-goodering about the place, trying to save stray cats.
- She was accused of do-goodering without understanding local customs.
American English
- Stop do-goodering and let people handle their own problems.
- They spent the summer do-goodering in rural communities.
adjective
British English
- His do-gooder attitudes got him into trouble with the local council.
- We're tired of these do-gooder policies that don't work.
American English
- She has a very do-gooder approach to foreign aid.
- The movie mocked do-gooder celebrities.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in critiques of corporate social responsibility initiatives seen as naive.
Academic
Used in sociology, political science, and anthropology as a descriptive label for a social type, often in quotes to denote the pejorative common usage.
Everyday
Common in informal criticism of someone's interfering or impractical attempts to help.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “do-gooder”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “do-gooder”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “do-gooder”
- Spelling as 'do-goodder' or 'do gooder' (should be hyphenated). Using it as a genuinely positive term (incorrect, given its inherent negative connotation).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost never a compliment. It is a term of criticism or gentle mockery, implying that the person's efforts are naive, ineffective, or self-serving.
A 'philanthropist' is a neutral or positive term for someone who donates money or resources to good causes, often effectively. A 'do-gooder' is a negative term focusing on the person's intrusive, impractical, or self-righteous *actions* rather than just their donations.
Yes, informally. To 'do-gooder' means to behave like a do-gooder (e.g., 'He spent the weekend do-goodering around the neighborhood'). It remains pejorative.
Positive or neutral terms would depend on context: 'activist', 'volunteer', 'humanitarian', 'social worker', 'altruist'. These lack the critical edge of 'do-gooder'.
A person who tries to help others, especially in an unskilled or naive way, but whose efforts are seen as impractical, self-righteous, or meddling.
Do-gooder is usually informal, often pejorative in register.
Do-gooder: in British English it is pronounced /ˈduːˌɡʊdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈduːˌɡʊdɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms specific to 'do-gooder' itself, but it often appears in phrases like 'do-gooder policies', 'do-gooder mentality'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"DO-GOODER" sounds like someone who just goes around DOing what they think is GOOD, but the '-ER' suffix makes it a person who does it excessively or annoyingly.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL ACTION AS MEDDLING / VIRTUE AS A PERFORMANCE.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'do-gooder' correctly?