contribution

American  

[kon-truh-byoo-shuhn] / ˌkɒn trəˈbyu ʃən /

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.

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contribution British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of contribution

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

Explanation

When you make a contribution, it means you're giving something away — whether it's your money, your possessions, or your time. A contribution can take many forms. Some contributions are measurable, like a $10 donation to the Salvation Army. Others are less tangible. When a student raises his hand in class to ask a question, he's making a contribution, because the answer to his question enriches the other students' learning experience.

Example Sentences

Reuters reported that officials want consumption to account for a larger share of GDP over the next five years and said its contribution to economic growth should rise steadily by 2030.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Bronny, 19, stole possession and passed to LeBron, who ran the length of the court for an uncontested dunk that was part of a 26-point contribution from the 41-year-old.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“A League of His Own” is a valuable but flawed contribution.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Making this contribution is a no-brainer for anyone who has the money.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Two late writers, Apuleius, a Latin, and Lucian, a Greek, both of the second century A.D., make an important contribution.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

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