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Synonyms

donee

American  
[doh-nee] / doʊˈni /

noun

Law.
  1. a person to whom a gift is made.

  2. a person who has a power of appointment in property.


donee British  
/ dəʊˈniː /

noun

  1. a person who receives a gift

  2. a person to whom a power of appointment is given

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of donee

First recorded in 1515–25; don(or) + -ee

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:

Electoral Commission rules say any member of a registered political party could be a "regulated donee" and therefore subject to its rules about declarations.

From BBC Apr. 30, 2026

Butler’s emails to Leo are relentlessly obsequious, an unsurprising dynamic between a donor and donee.

From Slate May 2, 2018

If the donor is too mean, the donee is happy to punish him by rejecting the ideal outright.

From Economist Jul. 20, 2012

A related example involves giving $100 to a participant and asking him to share it with another member of the group; the catch being that, if the donee rejects the deal, neither person gets anything.

From Economist Jul. 20, 2012

Many a well-meant bequest to a noble charity has been smitten down because there was no legal donee then existing to receive the gift.

From Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman by Albert Sidney Bolles

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