# donation

/doʊˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /dəʊnˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/donation
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a gift to charity

noun · CEFR B1

money or goods that you give to an organization, like a charity, to help them with their work.

For teachers: a voluntary gift or contribution, typically of money or physical goods, provided to a non-profit or charitable entity.

- The local food bank received a large donation of canned goods from the school.
- The museum's expansion was made possible by a generous private donation from an anonymous benefactor who wished to support the arts.

### 2. medical/biological

noun · CEFR B2

the act of giving blood or a body organ to help someone who is sick.

For teachers: the provision of biological material, such as blood, plasma, or organs, for medical treatment or research.

- The hospital is asking for more blood donations because their supplies are low.
- Organ donation remains a critical component of modern transplant surgery, requiring clear legal consent from the donor or their next of kin.

Usage: often used in the compound 'blood donation' or 'organ donation'.

## Examples

- The charity received a large donation from a local business.
- After the flood, many people dropped off a donation of warm blankets and canned food at the community center.
- While individual contributions are vital, the museum relies heavily on an annual corporate donation to maintain its free admission policy for students and local residents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.