endowment

noun

en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt How to pronounce endowment (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s cost-cutting moves, tweeted that major research universities with large endowments are spending too much money on overhead or indirect administrative costs that include laboratory, utility, and faculty expenses. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025 Even at larger schools with hefty endowments, the promise of government funding had already influenced big investments, the plaintiff lawyers said. Zach Montague, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 The Colorado universities, quoted in the narrative, are collectively sitting on billions of dollars in endowment funds and still want handouts from our federal government. Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 13 Feb. 2025 Challenges to higher education posed by the new Trump Administration (as well as from the far left and right of the political spectrum) include misguided assaults on admissions policies, educational curricula, endowment support, research priorities, and freedom of expression. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for endowment

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of endowment was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Endowment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endowment. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

endowment

noun
en·​dow·​ment in-ˈdau̇-mənt How to pronounce endowment (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on endowment

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