Definition of contribution
1 : a payment (such as a levy or tax) imposed by military, civil, or ecclesiastical authorities usually for a special or extraordinary purpose
2 : the act of contributing; also : the thing contributed his $100 contribution to the cancer research fund
contributively
adverbFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of contribution in a Sentence
They thanked him for his contribution of time and money.
He made an important contribution to the debate.
As mayor, he made many positive contributions to the growth of the city.
a book of essays including contributions from several well-known political columnists
The money was raised by voluntary contribution.
Recent Examples of contribution from the Web
-
The Trump administration has proposed a 31 percent cut in contributions to the U.N. starting in October.
-
Of all the words that have been spilled about Nelson Mandela over the years, perhaps the most interesting center around his thoughts on and contributions to the arena of sports.
-
In another provision, Senate appropriators once again have moved to zero out funding for the U.S. contribution to ITER, the gigantic fusion experiment under construction in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France.
-
Carlos Mendez: 817-390-7760, @calexmendez Related stories from Star-Telegram TCU coach: Big 12 football champ must embrace title game rematch TCU receiver recognized for off-field contributionsNever miss a local story.
-
Its 2015 annual report, for example, trumpeted the financing of a big supermarket in Côte d’Ivoire as typical of its contribution to African development.
-
Americans are peeved about rich European members shorting NATO of their mandatory contributions.
-
The city is matching the grant with in-kind contributions.
-
Many historians have highlighted the contribution of merchant shipping generally in that war.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contribution.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of contribution
see contribute
Other Economics Terms
CONTRIBUTION Defined for Kids
Law Dictionary
contribution
Legal Definition of contribution
1 : payment of a share of an amount for which one is liable: as a : shared payment of a judgment by joint tortfeasors especially according to proportional fault — compare apportion a b : pro rata apportionment of loss among all the insurance policies covering the same person or property — compare indemnity
2 : the money paid by one responsible for a share
3 : payment to a common fund (as by an employer or employee to an insurance plan or retirement fund)
Learn More about contribution
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for contribution Spanish Central: Translation of contribution Nglish: Translation of contribution for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of contribution for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up contribution? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!