endowment

[ɪnˈdaʊmənt]

endowment Definition

  • 1the action of providing money or property to an institution or individual for a specific purpose
  • 2a quality or ability possessed or inherited by someone

Using endowment: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "endowment" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The endowment will fund the new research center.

  • Example

    She was born with an endowment for music.

  • Example

    The university received a large endowment from a wealthy donor.

endowment Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with endowment

  • the tendency for people to value something they already own more than something they do not own

    Example

    The endowment effect explains why people are often unwilling to sell items they own for less than they believe they are worth.

  • an inherent or innate talent or ability

    Example

    Her natural endowment for mathematics made her stand out in her class.

  • a life insurance policy that pays out a lump sum after a specified term or on the death of the policyholder

    Example

    He took out an endowment policy to provide for his family in case of his untimely death.

Origins of endowment

from Old French 'endouement', meaning 'gift'

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Summary: endowment in Brief

The term 'endowment' [ɪnˈdaʊmənt] refers to the act of providing money or property for a specific purpose, or a quality or ability possessed or inherited by someone. Examples include 'The endowment will fund the new research center.' and 'She was born with an endowment for music.' The phrase 'endowment effect' describes the tendency to value something one already owns more than something one does not. 'Natural endowment' refers to an inherent talent or ability, while an 'endowment policy' is a type of life insurance policy.

How do native speakers use this expression?