donation

[doh-ney-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution.

2. a gift, as to a fund; contribution.

   Synonyms: gratuity, benefaction, offering

donation

/ dəʊˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of giving, esp to a charity

2. a contribution

Other Word Forms

• predonation noun
• self-donation noun
• superdonation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of donation¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of donation¹

C15: from Latin dōnātiō a presenting, from dōnāre to give, from dōnum gift

Synonym Study

See present ².

Example Sentences

In their letter, they said FireAid has “come under scrutiny for diverting donations to nonprofits instead of providing direct relief to fire victims.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bondi again refused to answer, instead accusing Whitehouse of hypocrisy for accepting campaign donations from “one of Epstein’s closest confidants,” a reference to Democratic donor Reid Hoffman.

Read more on Salon

Since the proposal was announced in August, donations supporting the measure have poured in.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A network of baby banks in London is urgently appealing for donations to help support families with young children this winter with clothes, blankets and other supplies.

Read more on BBC

At Hackney Foodbank in east London, staff member Farhan Jaisin said he was cautious of giving out donations when asylum seekers started turning up - because they were supposed to be catered for.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• aid 
• allowance 
• appropriation 
• assistance 
• bequest 
• charity 
• contribution 
• endowment 
• grant 
• handout 
• help 
• relief 
• subscription 
• subsidy