donation
doh-NEY-shuhn
/dəʊˈneɪʃən/
Something that is given to a charity, school, or other organization, especially without expecting anything in return.
Implies a completely altruistic act of giving, with no commercial exchange or profit motive involved.
The story behind the word. The word comes directly from the Latin 'donum,' meaning a gift. In ancient Rome, a 'donatio' was a formal, legal transfer of property without any expectation of payment, often used to secure political favor or support public temples.
Word relationships
- gift: A gift is usually given to an individual for personal reasons, while a donation is typically given to an institution or charity for public benefit.
- requisition: A requisition is an official demand or taking of property, usually by an authority, without voluntary consent.
Commonly confused with
- contribution: A contribution can be an active part in a joint effort (like ideas or time), whereas a donation is specifically a physical or monetary gift.
Word family
- donate (verb): To give money or goods to help a person or organization.
- donor (noun): A person who provides a donation.
Collocations
- make a donation
- charitable donation
- accept donations
- donation drive
Example sentences
- "The food bank is asking for a donation of non-perishable goods to help families during the winter." A charity drive announcement.
- "Keep the receipt for your clothing donation, as it can be used for a tax deduction at the end of the year." A tax deduction explanation.
Memory hook
When you 'DO' a 'donation', you are doing good for others by giving. Give freely, help fully.
When not to use
Do not use for items sold at a low price; a donation must be entirely free to the receiving party.
Fun facts
- The largest single private donation in history was made by Warren Buffett in 2006, who pledged over $30 billion of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Related words
Explore more words
philanthropist, charitable, subsidize, philanthropic, contribution, tribute
Also appears in
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