# dowry

/ˈdaʊɹi/ (US) · /dˈaʊɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dowry
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. marriage payment

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the money, land, or goods that a woman's family gives to the man she marries.

For teachers: property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage. While largely historical in Western contexts, it remains a significant legal and social practice in various cultures.

- In the past, a large dowry helped a woman find a wealthy husband.
- The negotiations regarding the bride's dowry were handled with extreme care by the elders to ensure the financial security of the new couple.

Usage: Usually a countable noun, though it can be used uncountably when referring to the custom in general.

### 2. natural talent

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a natural ability or talent that you are born with.

For teachers: a natural gift, talent, or endowment. This sense is largely literary and draws a metaphor between marriage gifts and nature's gifts.

- Her beautiful singing voice was a dowry from nature.
- He possessed a rare intellectual dowry that allowed him to master complex languages with almost no formal instruction.

### 3. a large amount

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

a very large amount of something.

For teachers: an informal designation for a large quantity or significant amount of something.

- The new job came with a dowry of extra benefits and a car.
- The startup was acquired for a dowry of nearly fifty million dollars, surprising many industry analysts.

### 4. to provide a dowry

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

to give a woman money or property for her marriage.

For teachers: to provide or endow a woman with a dowry. This transitive verb is rarely encountered in modern spoken English.

- The king promised to dowry his daughters with lands from the north.
- It was expected that the merchant would dowry his niece generously, given his lack of direct heirs.

## Examples

- The family saved for years to provide a generous dowry.
- In many historical novels, the plot revolves around a young woman's dowry and her prospects for a good marriage.
- While the practice of providing a dowry has declined in many Western societies, it remains a deeply entrenched cultural expectation in several regions, often influencing social mobility and family alliances.

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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.