contribution

[kon-truh-byoo-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of contributing.

2. something contributed.

   Synonyms: benefaction, donation, gift

3. an article, story, drawing, etc., furnished to a magazine or other publication.

4. an impost or levy.

5. Insurance.,  the method of distributing liability, in case of loss, among several insurers whose policies attach to the same risk.

contribution

/ ˌkɒntrɪˈbjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act of contributing

2. something contributed, such as money or ideas

3. an article, story, etc, contributed to a newspaper or other publication

4. insurance a portion of the total liability incumbent on each of two or more companies for a risk with respect to which all of them have issued policies

5. archaic,  a levy, esp towards the cost of a war

Other Word Forms

• contributional adjective
• noncontribution noun
• overcontribution noun
• precontribution noun
• supercontribution noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contribution¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English contribucio(u)n, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin contribūtiōn-, stem of contribūtiō “payment, distribution,” literally, “a bringing together,” equivalent to contribūt(us) “brought together” (past participle of contribuere; contribute ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The buy-in’s objective was to temporarily stall the store’s operation and show the financial contribution that day laborers make to the company — without staging a boycott, which Andiola said the community does not want.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He highlighted one of his top anxieties today—a weakening trans-Atlantic alliance—and thanked the British for their contributions to defending freedom against Nazism.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday it was cutting its 2026 budget by 17 percent amid declining donor contributions, and would slash the equivalent of 2,900 full-time positions.

Read more on Barron's

In his thesis proposal he suggested the research would "prepare me better for making a contribution to the reform process in Ukraine".

Read more on BBC

"While spending on public services and benefits were both up on October last year, this was more than offset by increased receipts from taxes and National Insurance contributions," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• addition 
• donation 
• grant 
• improvement 
• increase 
• input