good samaritan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary, Journalistic, Legal
Quick answer
What does “good samaritan” mean?
A person who selflessly helps a stranger in need, especially when others refuse to do so.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who selflessly helps a stranger in need, especially when others refuse to do so.
Any individual or organization that provides unexpected, compassionate, or charitable assistance without expecting reward or recognition. The term can be used as both a noun phrase ('a Good Samaritan') and attributively ('a Good Samaritan law').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Good Samaritan' laws, which protect helpers from legal liability, originated in and are most commonly referenced in American legal contexts.
Connotations
Identical positive connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English due to the prevalence of Good Samaritan laws in public discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “good samaritan” in a Sentence
VERB + Good Samaritan (e.g., 'play', 'act as')Good Samaritan + VERB (e.g., 'stopped to help', 'came to the rescue')Good Samaritan + NOUN (e.g., 'law', 'act', 'story')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “good samaritan” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard; the term is not used as a verb.)
American English
- (Not standard; the term is not used as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The Good Samaritan story is well-known.
- They were protected by Good Samaritan provisions.
American English
- She relied on the state's Good Samaritan law.
- It was a classic Good Samaritan act.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. May appear in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports metaphorically.
Academic
Common in theological, ethical, sociological, and legal studies discussing altruism and duty to rescue.
Everyday
Used in news reports and conversation to describe strangers who perform acts of kindness.
Technical
Specific meaning in law: refers to statutes protecting voluntary rescuers from liability.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “good samaritan”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “good samaritan”
- Incorrect: 'He was a good samaritan.' (Correct: capitalised 'Good Samaritan').
- Incorrect: 'She good-samaritan-ed the injured cat.' (The term is not conventionally verbed.)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a proper noun derived from a Biblical parable and is almost always capitalised.
Yes, though it's less common. It can be used sarcastically to describe someone whose help is intrusive or unwelcome.
It is a law that offers legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are injured, ill, or in danger.
No, it is almost always a compliment. However, be aware of the term's specific cultural and religious origins.
A person who selflessly helps a stranger in need, especially when others refuse to do so.
Good samaritan is usually formal, literary, journalistic, legal in register.
Good samaritan: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd səˈmærɪt(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd səˈmɛrətən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Play the Good Samaritan.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GOOD' = morally right action; 'SAMARITAN' = a specific group known for helping in a famous story. Together, they mean a 'good helper from a story'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPASSION IS A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS (the Samaritan acts when others 'pass by on the other side').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'Good Samaritan'?