Word
endowment
Phoneticsen·dow·ment, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛnˈdaʊmənt/
UK/ɛndˈaʊmənt/
Definitions
01financial gift
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a large amount of money given to a university, hospital, or charity to provide it with a permanent income.
n. a permanent fund or source of income bestowed upon an institution, typically invested to provide ongoing financial support.
“The university used a generous endowment from a former student to build the new library.”
“The museum's substantial endowment allows it to maintain the collection and offer free admission to the public regardless of fluctuating ticket sales.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'provide', 'establish', or 'manage'.
Antonyms
02natural talent
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal · Literary
n. a natural quality or ability that you are born with.
n. an innate physical or mental quality, talent, or attribute possessed by an individual.
“She was lucky to have a natural endowment for music and could play the piano by ear.”
“The philosopher argued that every human being possesses a unique intellectual endowment that must be nurtured through rigorous education.”
Usage
Frequently used in the plural form 'endowments' when referring to multiple talents.
Antonyms
03insurance policy
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical · British English
n. a type of insurance policy that pays out a lump sum of money after a specific period of time.
n. a form of life insurance that pays a specified sum to the insured upon reaching a certain age or to the beneficiaries upon the insured's death.
“They took out an endowment policy to help pay off their mortgage in twenty years.”
“The financial advisor warned that the projected growth of the endowment might not be sufficient to cover the remaining balance of the loan.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the compound 'endowment policy' or 'endowment mortgage'.
Real-World Examples
“Fieldwork and laboratory research in the Gobi Desert were supported in part by the Margaret and Will Hearst Paleontological Research Fund and the Frick Laboratory Endowment at the Museum.” “Its endowment had topped $23 billion as of 2024 – the largest for any K-12 private school in the United States.” “Many universities, museums and other charitable institutions use endowments to achieve long-term financial stability that supports their long-term missions.” Etymology
From Middle English endowement; equivalent to endow + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/endowment