bequest
Americannoun
-
bequests
plural
-
a disposition in a will.
-
a legacy.
A small bequest allowed her to live independently.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bequest
1250–1300; Middle English biqueste, biquyste, equivalent to bi- be- + quiste will, bequest, Old English -cwis ( se ) (with excrescent t, as in behest ), noun derivative of cwethan to say; on the model of bequethen bequeath
Explanation
When you receive some kind of gift, be it money or property, through a will, that gift is known as a bequest. Your aunt left you a bequest of the earrings she always thought you admired. The noun bequest is something one arranges to give away after death, sort of a gift from beyond the grave. Basically, putting a bequest in a will is a way of making sure the right person will get certain goods after your death. If you are very wealthy, universities and charitable organizations may court you in an attempt to gain bequests for their institutions.
Vocabulary lists containing bequest
Beowulf vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Pygmalion
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Setting up a trust and/or bequest is a way you can take action; that can do far more than words, which are open to misinterpretation, can.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
Since you wouldn’t have to worry about running out of money in old age, you might travel the world, buy a sports car, or gift an early bequest to heirs.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
That’s a father’s bequest to his son, and a public servant’s to his country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
I have one daughter who is well off, having received a generous bequest through my deceased sister’s will.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 12, 2026
In the embers of the last days of the Roman Empire we are able, out of centuries of silence, to hear the only living musical bequest of the Ancient World.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
People who leave charities donations, legacies and bequests in their wills make noticeable differences to organisations, no matter what the amount is, sector leaders say.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Examples assume 5% annual inflation-adjusted stock-market return, 2% annual inflation-adjusted risk-free interest rate and no planned bequests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026
Gold bars, rings and necklaces can be handed down to the next generation as wedding gifts or inheritance bequests.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
It’s also likely that the Reiners included charitable bequests in their estate plans.
From Salon ● Dec. 25, 2025
The validity of these bequests was disputed by the natural heirs; the contest lasted three hundred years, during which Italy was distracted, and Germany depopulated.
From Monks, Popes, and their Political Intrigues by John Alberger
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
