# endowment

/ɛnˈdaʊmənt/ (US) · /ɛndˈaʊmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/endowment
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. financial gift

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a large amount of money given to a university, hospital, or charity to provide it with a permanent income.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. natural talent

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a natural quality or ability that you are born with.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. insurance policy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · British English

a type of insurance policy that pays out a lump sum of money after a specific period of time.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- The university received a generous endowment from a former student.
- The museum relies on its annual endowment to fund the restoration of historical artifacts and maintain the building.
- While the college's financial endowment ensures its long-term stability, the dean often remarked that the intellectual endowment of the faculty was the institution's most valuable asset.

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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.