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

The museum, whose collection contains 5,000 works, has an endowment of about $23 million, per its 2024 financial statements. —Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

To her own children and, soon, the community’s children through endowments and scholarships, including $1 million to FIU’s music graduate students in the 1990s. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026

Flaks said the projects will be financed primarily through bond funding supported by the corporation’s endowment and other philanthropic gifts. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026

History says beware The idea that private equity could generate outsize returns started with the huge Yale University endowment fund in the 1980s, pioneered by then-manager David Swensen. —Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

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