noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
ăl′mə-nər
ä′mə-
Received-Pronunciation, contemporary:/ˈal.mə.nə/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈæl-/conservative
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɑː.mə-/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, General-American:/ˈæl.mə.nəɹ/
Canada, General-American:/ˈɑ.mə-/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada:/ˈɒ.mə-/
Australian:/ˈæl.mə.nə/
Australian:/ˈɐː.mə-/
New-Zealand:/ˈɛl.mə.nə/
New-Zealand:/ˈɐː.mə-/
New-Zealand:/-nɐ/
New-Zealand:/-na/
Scotland:/ˈal.mə.nəɹ/
Scotland:/ˈa.mə-/
rhymes with -ælmənə(ɹ)
rhymes with -ɑːmənə(ɹ)
CMU ARPABET:AA1 L M AH0 N ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A person who distributes alms, especially the doles and alms of religious houses, almshouses.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A person who dispenses alms on behalf of another person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
the almoner of a prince or bishop
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A purse or pouch
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A hospital official responsible for patient welfare and aftercare.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
an official in a British hospital who looks after the social and material needs of the patients
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: medical social worker
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: social worker, caseworker, welfare worker
History
Etymology
From Middle English aumener, aulmener, from Old French almosnier, from almosne (“alms”), from Latin eleemosyna. See alms, Almosen.
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
aalmoesenier
— person who distributes alms
Dutch:
aalmoezenier
— person who distributes alms
French:
aumônier
— person who distributes alms
Old French:
aumosnier
— person who distributes alms
Ido:
almonero
— person who distributes alms
Ido:
almonisto
— person who distributes alms
Irish:
almsóir
— person who distributes alms
Irish:
banalmsóir
— person who distributes alms
Italian:
elemosiniere
— person who distributes alms
Latin:
elemosinarius
— person who distributes alms
Latin:
eleemosynarius
— person who distributes alms
Polish:
jałmużnik
— person who distributes alms
Polish:
jałmużnica
— person who distributes alms
Portuguese:
esmoler
— person who distributes alms
Afrikaans:
aalmoesenier
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Dutch:
aalmoezenier
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
French:
aumônier
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Old French:
aumosnier
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Ido:
almonero
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Ido:
almonisto
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Irish:
almsóir
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Italian:
elemosiniere
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Latin:
eleemosynarius
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Latin:
elemosinarius
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Polish:
jałmużnik
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
Portuguese:
esmoler
— person who distributes alms on behalf of another
