donation
Americannoun
-
donations
plural
-
an act or instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution.
-
a gift, as to a fund; contribution.
- Synonyms:
- gratuity, benefaction, offering
noun
-
the act of giving, esp to a charity
-
a contribution
Synonym Usage
See present 2.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of donation
1375–1425, for an earlier sense; late Middle English < Latin dōnātiōn- (stem of dōnātiō ), equivalent to dōnāt ( us ), past participle of dōnāre to give ( dōn-, stem of dōnum gift, + -ātus -ate 1 ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A donation is a gift someone gives to a cause they believe in. If you have ever put a dollar into a collection plate or hat, you have made a donation. No one has to give a donation; donations are voluntary. In addition to disease research, many schools, arts groups, museums, churches, and groups that help the poor rely on donations. Donations usually take the form of money, but giving anything away to a cause could be considered a donation — like giving books to a library or bringing deviled eggs to a school potluck.
Vocabulary lists containing donation
An Explanation of Herd Immunity from "On Immunity" by Eula Biss
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for January 9–15, 2021
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Boxing Day
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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:
“If the money was hers legally and she gave the donation, I don’t see what the problem is,” he said recently.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
But Farage claimed the donation from Harborne was a gift for his security made before he became an MP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
That same year, Britain Means Business received a £1m donation from Cotrell's mother.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Raman also picked up a donation from former City Controller Laura Chick, who gained a reputation as a sharp critic of the status quo during her time at City Hall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Crocker’s donation for the medical school project solved one of Lawrence’s immediate problems: keeping Stan Livingston on hand after the expiration of his one-year instructorship at Berkeley.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
The small museum operates entirely with support from community donations.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026
The plastic table she has set up to try to sell a few last items brought from home, and the umbrella shielding her from the relentless sun, were bought with donations.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
A community leader in Ceuta, Sabah Hamad, has been collecting donations to feed hundreds of migrants a day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Lord Sainsbury's donations went towards Burnham's campaign to become Labour leader.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
She solicited donations of food and clothing for the miners’ families.
From "Fannie Never Flinched" by Mary Cronk Farrell
Definitions 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.
