donation
doh-NAY-shuhn
Donation (noun) means something given freely, usually money or goods, to support a cause or help someone. Example: “We gladly accepted a donation of tinned food for the school's winter appeal.”
noun
1
Something given freely, usually money or goods, to support a cause or help someone.
"We gladly accepted a donation of tinned food for the school's winter appeal."
"The charity relies on public donations to fund its work."
"He made a generous donation to the local food bank."
How to use donation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gift, usually of money, made to help a person, charity, or cause.
Common pairings
make a donation
charitable donation
blood donation
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Word forms
- Plural
- donations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We gladly accepted a _____ of tinned food for the school's winter appeal.
Etymology
From Latin donatio, "a gift," from donare, "to give."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for donation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for donation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “donation” mean?
The word “donation” means something given freely, usually money or goods, to support a cause or help someone. In plain terms, a gift, usually of money, made to help a person, charity, or cause.
How do you pronounce “donation”?
“Donation” is pronounced doh-NAY-shuhn (/doʊˈneɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “donation” in a sentence?
Here is “donation” used in a sentence: “The charity relies on public donations to fund its work.”
What part of speech is “donation”?
“Donation” is a noun.
Where does the word “donation” come from?
The word “donation” comes from Latin. From Latin donatio, "a gift," from donare, "to give.".
Is “donation” a common word?
“Donation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between a donation and a gift?
Both are given freely, but a donation supports a cause, charity, or public purpose, while a gift is usually personal, given to an individual out of affection or custom. Tax systems often treat charitable donations differently from personal gifts, which is why the distinction matters on official forms.
What is the difference between a donation and a contribution?
A contribution is anything given as a share toward a larger effort — money, time, or ideas — and the word is neutral. A donation is specifically something given freely to support a cause or help someone, typically money or goods, and implies charity rather than obligation.
Is it "make a donation" or "give a donation"?
Both are grammatical, but "make a donation" is the standard collocation in formal and charity contexts. In everyday speech, the verb "donate" on its own is often the most natural choice: "donate ten pounds" rather than "give a donation of ten pounds".
Does a donation have to be money?
No. A donation is anything given freely to support a cause or help someone — commonly money, but also goods, food, or clothing, and the word extends to blood donation and organ donation. What defines a donation is that it is given freely, not what is given.
