donation
Americannoun
-
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
Related Words
See present 2.
Other Word Forms
- predonation noun
- self-donation noun
- superdonation noun
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.
Their donation supports both the event and a new fashion exhibit opening to the public in May.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Last November, LA28 launched a donation program to help fund tickets for local organizations.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
Followers are now allowed to have their own blood removed, stored, and "given back", in a process called autologous donation, but are still forbidden from accepting donations from others.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
The Internal Revenue Service allows the donor to write off a donation to a charitable organization — in this case, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026
She couldn't understand what anyone was saying or doing, but she still wanted to observe and even dropped five dollars in the donation basket.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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.
