donation

noun

do·​na·​tion dō-ˈnā-shən 

: the act or an instance of donating: such as

a

: the making of a gift especially to a charity or public institution

b

: a free contribution : gift

Synonyms of donation

• contribution

Examples of donation in a Sentence

The organization is funded by private donations.

We are grateful for the donation of whatever you can afford to give.

trying to encourage the donation of blood

Recent Examples on the Web

The breakdown of the $800 million is a $500 million cash investment through United Auburn Indian Community and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, with a land donation for the current Sutter Health Park accounting for $300 million in land equity. —Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

The $800 million portion includes a $500 million cash investment through the United Auburn Indian Community and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, along with a land donation tied to the current Sutter Health Park site that accounts for about $300 million in land equity. —Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 28 May 2026

The studios have pledged a donation that a percantage of royalties of all toys and merchandise sold will go back to oceanic conservations efforts. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 May 2026

Replies from the most recent survey, conducted in February, show 10% of families nationwide reported missing meals due to a lack of food, and nearly 16% relied on food donations. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English donatyowne, from Latin donation-, donatio, from donare to present, from donum gift; akin to Latin dare to give — more at date

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing donation

• make a donation

Rhymes for donation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

donation

noun

do·​na·​tion dō-ˈnā-shən 

: a giving of something without charge

also : the thing given (as to charity)

Legal Definition

donation

noun

do·​na·​tion

1

: the making of an especially charitable gift

2

in the civil law of Louisiana : a voluntary transfer of ownership of property from one person to another compare sale

— disguised donation

: a transfer of property (as a sale) that does not have a sufficient reciprocal consideration (as a proportional price) so that it is considered a gratuitous donation and must meet the statutory requirements for a donation (as a notarial act) to be valid

called also donation in disguise

compare simulation

— donation inter vivos \ -​ˌin-​tər-​ˈvī-​ˌvōs, -​ˌin-​ter-​ˈvē-​ˌvōs \

: a donation that transfers property owned by the donor and that takes effect upon the donee's acceptance compare gift inter vivos at gift

— donation mortis causa \ -​ˈmȯr-​tis-​ˈkȯ-​zə, -​ˈmȯr-​tēs-​ˈkau̇-​sä \

: a donation that is to take effect on the donor's death and that is revocable compare gift causa mortis at gift

3

: something that is transferred by a donation