endowment

noun

en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt How to pronounce endowment (audio)
en-
1
: the act or process of endowing
2
: something that is endowed
specifically : the part of an institution's income derived from donations
3
: natural capacity, power, or ability
a person of great intellectual endowment

Examples of endowment in a Sentence

The hospital's endowment was established by a local family. The college has a large endowment. the endowment of a hospital wing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hammons was born in Fairview and the trust provided $500,000 to establish an endowment to run a local community center. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025 The first two cohorts included participants ranging from large pensions like California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) to large endowments and foundations like Dartmouth College and MacArthur Foundation. Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 Buddie showed his fundraising chops by securing a trio of $1 million endowments in support of the football and volleyball program. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2025 Baker, however, still holds an endowment of about $362 million, according to its 2023 tax filing. Anna Clark, ProPublica, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for endowment 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of endowment was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near endowment

Cite this Entry

“Endowment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endowment. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

endowment

noun
en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt How to pronounce endowment (audio)
1
: the providing of a permanent fund for support
also : the fund provided
a college's endowment
2
: a person's natural ability

Legal Definition

endowment

noun
en·​dow·​ment
1
: the act or process of endowing
2
: a result or product of endowing: as
a
: the income of an institution derived from donations
the university's ability to attract endowment
b
: the property (as a fund) donated to an institution or organization that is invested and producing income
an endowment to maintain the gallery
3
: an endowed organization or institution : foundation
chairwoman of the state's arts endowment
4

More from Merriam-Webster on endowment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!