dowry

noun

dow·​ry ˈdau̇(-ə)-rē 

plural dowries

1

law : the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage

cultures in which marriage rarely occurs without dowry or bride-price

2

: a natural talent or gift

Beauty should be the dowry of every man and woman, as invariably as sensation; but it is rare.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

3

archaic, law : dower sense 1

Examples of dowry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The impoverished duke needs Gladys' dowry to prop up his family's estate, and Bertha may have promised him a bit too much without informing George or taking Gladys' wishes into account. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 June 2025

The value of a girl was measured by her dowry, not a diploma. —Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, NPR, 15 June 2025

He’s long still held a candle, imagining a future for the two of them, while feeling inadequate about his financial status and lack of a proverbial dowry, little to offer but his deep feelings. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 June 2025

Experts found other oddities in the surrounding graves, including what may have been a young woman's dowry. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dowarie, from Anglo-French, alteration of dower, douaire — more at dower

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for dowry

• cowrie
• floury
• lourie
• maori

Kids Definition

dowry

noun

dow·​ry ˈdau̇(ə)r-ē 

plural dowries

: the property that a woman brings to her husband in marriage in some cultures