endowment

noun

en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt 

en-

1

: the act or process of endowing

2

: something that is endowed

specifically : the part of an institution's income derived from donations

3

: natural capacity, power, or ability

a person of great intellectual endowment

Synonyms of endowment

• talent
• gift
• aptitude
• knack

Examples of endowment in a Sentence

The hospital's endowment was established by a local family.

The college has a large endowment.

the endowment of a hospital wing

Recent Examples on the Web

With commodity prices at record highs, Africa’s natural resource endowments are among the first areas to receive attention. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

Talladega College, Alabama’s first private historically Black college, has sold four of six murals painted for the institution by renowned Black painter Hale Woodruff in order to shore up its $5 million endowment and make payroll, the New York Times reports. —News Desk, Artforum, 29 Oct. 2025

This will be an annual endowment. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025

The author of numerous papers on investment policy and endowment governance, Bill serves as Managing Editor of the Bank of America Study of Philanthropy and has edited leading endowment studies covering a broad range of nonprofit organizations. —William Jarvis, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

endowment

noun

en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt 

1

: the providing of a permanent fund for support

also : the fund provided

a college's endowment

2

: a person's natural ability

Legal Definition

endowment

noun

en·​dow·​ment

1

: the act or process of endowing

2

: a result or product of endowing: as

a

: the income of an institution derived from donations

the university's ability to attract endowment

b

: the property (as a fund) donated to an institution or organization that is invested and producing income

an endowment to maintain the gallery

3

: an endowed organization or institution : foundation

chairwoman of the state's arts endowment

4

: endowment insurance