noun
dowry
DOW-uh-ree
noun
1
Money or property a bride's family traditionally gives to the groom at marriage.
"Her family paid a large dowry when she married."
"In some cultures a dowry is still expected before a wedding can take place."
2
A natural talent or gift someone is born with.
"His musical dowry was obvious from an early age."
How to Use Dowry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishProperty or money given by a bride's family to the groom's family when they marry.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "dower" (property a widow inherits from her husband) — dowry moves the other direction, from bride's side to groom's side.
Easily confused with
dower
Common pairings
pay a dowry
dowry system
Word Forms
dowried past tense, dowries plural, dowries singular
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Her family paid a large _____ when she married.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman dowarie, ultimately from Latin dos ("gift, dowry"); a doublet of "dower."