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

Flipcause, based in California, was used by thousands of nonprofits nationwide to process online donations, allowing money to be collected on the platform before being transferred to individual organizations. —Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

Fairlinked is soliciting donations for a legal fund to take on Microsoft and is urging the public to encourage local regulators to intervene. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026

The private, tax-deductible donations were placed in the National Park Service gift account, which is a mandatory account, according to the OMB official, and not subject to yearly congressional appropriations. —Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026

He’s matched that with individual donations and some from farming businesses to reach a total of roughly $230,000, with $181,000 left to spend. —Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 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
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

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