endowment

American  

[en-dou-muhnt] / ɛnˈdaʊ mənt /

noun

1. the act of endowing.

2. the property, funds, etc., with which an institution or person is endowed.

   Synonyms:

   bequest, grant, gift

3. Usually endowments. an attribute of mind or body; a gift of nature.

   Synonyms:

   ability, talent, capacity, capability

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endowment British  

/ ɪnˈdaʊmənt /

noun

1. 1. the source of income with which an institution, etc, is endowed

   2. the income itself

2. the act or process of endowing

3. (usually plural) natural talents or qualities

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Other Word Forms

• nonendowment noun
• reendowment noun

Etymology

Origin of endowment

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French endowement; equivalent to endow + -ment

Example Sentences

The latest fund attracted a diverse group of investors, from high-net-worth individuals to corporate and public pensions and school endowments, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Deep-pocketed pensions and endowments are scrutinizing their private debt holdings, too, worried in part about the funds’ exposure to software companies that could be hurt by the artificial-intelligence boom.

From The Wall Street Journal

Native Forward used the new gift to set up a $40 million endowment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Runaway gains by tech firms in the early days of the internet helped draw pensions, endowments and other deep-pocketed investors to private markets.

From The Wall Street Journal

He raced over to greet years-ago colleagues in restaurants and forged close relationships with executives at university endowments.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bequest
• donation
• fund
• funding
• grant
• income
• inheritance
• largess
• nest egg
• pension
• revenue
• stipend
• subsidy
• trust