Donation — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /dō-ˈnā-shən/ do·na·tion

Meaning & Definition of Donation

Donation (noun)

  1. the act or an instance of donating
  2. the making of a gift especially to a charity or public institution
  3. a free contribution, gift

Donation (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution

    "a generous donation to the orphanage from an anonymous benefactor"

    similar: alms, benefaction, beneficence, charity, contribution, philanthropy
    related: offering, tithe, bequest, endowment, legacy, aid, assistance, dole, handout, relief, welfare, grant, subsidy, benevolence, bestowal, largesse, present, presentation

  2. something given to someone without expectation of a return

    "a chocolate cake was my donation to the office party"

    similar: bestowal, comp, donative, fairing (British), freebie, gift, giveaway, handsel, lagniappe, largesse, present, presentation
    related: alms, benefaction, beneficence, benevolence, charity, contribution, dole, handout, oblation, offering, philanthropy, tithe, box (British), care package, foy (chiefly Scottish), grant, subsidy, remembrance, tribute, valentine, bonus, boon, windfall, courtesy, favor, generosity, sacrifice, gratuity, propine (Scottish), tip, award, prize, reward, dowry, bequest, legacy
    near: advance, loan, bribe, douceur, peace offering, sop

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Donation

The most common words with a similar meaning to Donation:

British: fairing
alms, benefaction, beneficence, charity, contribution, philanthropy, bestowal, comp, donative, freebie, gift, giveaway, handsel, lagniappe, largesse, present, presentation

Related Words for Donation

offering, tithe, bequest, endowment, legacy, aid, assistance, dole, handout, relief, welfare, grant, subsidy, benevolence, oblation, box, care package, foy, remembrance, tribute, valentine, bonus, boon, windfall, courtesy, favor, generosity, sacrifice, gratuity, propine

Near Antonyms of Donation

advance, loan, bribe, douceur, peace offering, sop

Origin & Etymology of Donation

Middle English donatyowne, from Latin donation-, donatio, from donare to present, from donum gift; akin to Latin dare to give date

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Donation

Words & Phrases Containing Donation

make a donation

Frequently Asked Questions about Donation

What does "Donation" mean?

"Donation" means the act or an instance of donating. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or an instance of donating. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Donation"?

Other words for "Donation" include alms, benefaction, beneficence, charity, contribution, philanthropy, bestowal and comp. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Donation" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Donation"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Donation". Common alternatives include alms, benefaction, beneficence, charity, contribution, philanthropy, bestowal, comp, donative and fairing.

How do you use "Donation" in a sentence?

Examples of "Donation" in a sentence: "a generous donation to the orphanage from an anonymous benefactor"; "a chocolate cake was my donation to the office party".

Is "Donation" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Donation" is a noun.

Is "Donation" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Donation" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Donation"?

"Donation" is pronounced /dō-ˈnā-shən/ and divided into syllables as do·na·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Donation"?

"Donation" comes from Middle English donatyowne, from Latin donation-, donatio, from donare to present, from donum gift; akin to Latin dare to give date. First known use: 15th century.