endowment

endowment — noun

1. A sum of money given to an institution such as a university, hospital, or museum

1.nounB2
Definition

A sum of money given to an institution such as a university, hospital, or museum. The institution keeps this money as a permanent fund, usually invests it, and spends only the income it earns over many years. The word can also describe the process of providing such funds to an institution.

Example

The Yan family made a large endowment to the local university's medical school.

collocation: make a large endowment

The college used income from its endowment to fund student scholarships every year.

collocation: endowment income

Common collocations
  • large endowment
  • generous endowment
  • endowment fund
  • endowment income
  • university endowment
  • build an endowment
  • create an endowment
  • manage an endowment
Synonyms
  • donation

    more general; can be a single gift of any size, not necessarily a permanent fund

  • bequest

    specifically money or property left in a will

  • grant

    usually given for a specific project or purpose, not as a permanent investment fund

  • fund

    broader; any sum of money set aside for a purpose, not always permanent

Grammar Patterns

endowment + of + institution (the act)

endowment + fund / income / campaign (attributive)

Usage Note

An endowment is different from a one-time donation: it is meant to last permanently, and only the investment earnings are spent. Many large universities and hospitals rely on their endowments to cover operating costs.

Common Mistakes

The company gave a one-time endowment of $5,000 for the event.
The company made a one-time donation of $5,000 for the event.
An endowment is a permanent fund, not a single short-term gift.
She received an endowment to study abroad.
She received a scholarship to study abroad.
An endowment is given to an institution, not directly to an individual as a personal grant.

2. An ability, quality, or characteristic that a person has naturally from birth, r

2.nounC1
Definition

An ability, quality, or characteristic that a person has naturally from birth, rather than one they learn or develop through training — for example, a talent for music, a kind nature, or physical strength.

Example

Yan's natural endowments as a singer were clear from a very young age.

often plural: natural endowments

Physical strength was not one of Andrei's endowments, but his patience was remarkable.

contrastive structure: not one of … endowments

Common collocations
  • natural endowment
  • intellectual endowment
  • physical endowment
  • artistic endowment
  • mental endowment
  • endowment of wit
  • endowment of charm
Synonyms
  • talent

    less formal and much more common; focuses on a special natural skill

  • gift

    similar to talent, with an implication of something given by nature

  • aptitude

    focuses on a natural tendency or capacity to learn something

  • faculty

    a natural mental or physical power; more technical

Grammar Patterns

endowment of + trait / ability

natural endowment(s)

intellectual / physical / artistic endowment(s)

Usage Note

This sense is formal and more common in written English than in everyday conversation. It is frequently used in the plural form (endowments) to refer to multiple qualities or abilities. The singular form often appears with a modifier (e.g. a natural endowment, a rare endowment).

Common Mistakes

Her endowment for drawing was obvious at age five.
Her talent for drawing was obvious at age five.
In everyday English, talent or gift is more natural than endowment when speaking about a child's natural ability.

Word family

  • endow
    verbB2
  • endowed
    adjectiveB2
  • endower
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Donation is the broadest term — any gift of money or goods, large or small, made at one time. A bequest is a donation left through a will, so it takes effect only after the giver's death. A grant is typically money given by a government or foundation for a specific project or purpose (e.g. a research grant), and it is not expected to be permanent. A fund is a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose but does not carry the meaning of being a permanent, invested resource in the way that an endowment does. For example: 'The library received a donation of books' (any gift); 'She left a bequest of $50,000 to the animal shelter' (via will); 'The scientist applied for a government grant' (project-specific); 'The town set up a fund for disaster relief' (purpose-specific, not necessarily permanent). An endowment, by contrast, is invested and meant to generate ongoing income for an institution over decades.

donation ↗bequestgrant ↗fund ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • endowment campaign
  • endowment fund
  • endowment income
  • endowment policy

Phrases

  • build up an endowment
  • create an endowment
  • establish an endowment
  • manage an endowment
  • live off an endowment

Prepositions

  • endowment of (an institution)
  • endowment of (a quality)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle FrenchEnglish

The word entered English from the Middle French verb endouer, which combined en- ('in, into') with douer ('to give a dowry'). The French douer came from the Latin verb dōtāre, meaning 'to provide with a dowry or gift', which in turn came from the noun dōs ('dowry'). Originally, to endow someone meant to provide a woman with property upon marriage. Over time, the meaning broadened to giving property or money to any person or institution for long-term support. By the 16th century, endowment was also being used figuratively for natural qualities or talents 'given' to a person at birth.