donation
nounUK /dəʊˈneɪʃən/ · US /doʊˈneɪʃən/
Etymology From Middle English donacion, donation, from Middle French donation, from Latin dōnātiō (“a present”), from dōnō (“to give”), from dōnum (“a gift”). Recorded in English since the 15th century. Equivalent to donate + -ion.
1
A voluntary gift or contribution for a specific cause.
- They were collecting donations for the elderly at Christmas.
- And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers.1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
2
The act of giving or bestowing; a grant.
- After donation there is an absolute change and alienation of the property of the thing given.1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
- Derived terms
- backdonation, blood donation, donationware, dono, DonoWall, e-donation, egg donation, hemodonation, living donation, microdonation, nondonation, organ donation, postdonation
- Related terms
- donate, fundraising