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 Words From

• predo·nation noun
• self-do·nation noun
• super·do·nation 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

Other slightly more enterprising cafés will charge a couple of bucks for each one or ask for a donation to charity.

From Popular-Science

The group’s first filings, for the 2017 tax year, show no donations to the nonprofit.

From ProPublica

In an email Wednesday to SANDAG board members, Mary Scyocurka, a conservative activist, said Ikhrata should be disciplined for his donation.

From Voice of San Diego

Eyal pointed to live kidney donation, a practice that carries risk and no physical benefit for the donor, but is widely accepted.

From FiveThirtyEight

His parents, Angela and KC Ahlers, continue to fight for his life and are asking for donations to help with the mounting medical bills to treat him.

From Health

On Sunday Than Dar held the last of the funeral rites for her husband with a food donation ceremony at a monastery.

From The Daily Beast

This was before Cassidy entered politics, and the Republican congressman now calls that donation a “youthful indiscretion.”

From The Daily Beast

Which is $30 billion less than the largest ever single donation.

From The Daily Beast

This is nothing like the million-dollar donation Maher made to the Obama campaign in 2012.

From The Daily Beast

The 1978 movie Coma explored deep-rooted fears about exploitation and medical advances in organ donation.

From The Daily Beast

Ando promised a generous donation in return for information concerning the Kano family.

From Project Gutenberg

In the same year he presented the funds of the Society with £100, his last donation.

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever may be our estimate of the merit or utility of a small donation, the most trifling addition is of some importance.

From Project Gutenberg

Mere pecuniary aid, or indeed any other form of donation, is after all a cheap description of charity.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly it requires that before attaining this delectable privilege, the “alien” must make a “donation” of ten dollars.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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