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

• 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

Four faculty endowments — two in the William States Lee College of Engineering and two in the College of Computing and Informatics. —Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025

Elevate, which consults widely across pro and college sports, said the vehicle was fully funded by private equity firm Velocity Capital Management and the Texas Permanent School Fund (TPSF), a special-purpose government corporation that oversees a nearly $60 billion public school endowment. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025

The pooled endowment is designed to support the long-term financial health of the schools. —Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025

The work was made possible thanks to a grant from the Dickinson endowment fund administered through the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 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