endowment

noun

en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt 

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

Synonyms of endowment

• talent
• gift
• aptitude
• knack

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

Perhaps the defining competitive advantage of the twenty-first-century university will not be measured by rankings, endowment, enrollment, or research expenditures alone. — David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

In June, the city secured a preliminary injunction barring GLAZA from retaining or distributing the endowment after its operating agreement with the zoo expired last year. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Unlike many of the Kennedy Center’s programs, it is supported by separate endowment funding. — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

The same year, students at Georgetown University demanded that the administration set aside an endowment equal to the profit from an 1838 slave sale that helped pay off the university’s debt to recruit Black professors. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

endowment

noun

en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt 

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

: endowment insurance