noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌkɒntɹɪˈbjuːʃən/
General-American:/ˌkɑntɹɪˈbjuʃən/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -uːʃən
CMU ARPABET:K AA2 N T R AH0 B Y UW1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Something given or offered that adds to a larger whole.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An amount of money given toward something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
He made a contribution of $100 for the victims of the flood.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The act of contributing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The taking part, often with the idea that it has led to (scientific etc.) progress.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the part played by a person in bringing about a result
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I am proud of my contribution in advancing the project
act of giving in common with others for a common purpose especially to a charity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: donation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: giving, gift
Narrower terms: subscription, alms
7
noun
Meaning 7
a writing for publication especially one of a collection of writings as an article or story
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: publication, publishing
8
noun
Meaning 8
an amount of money contributed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he expected his contribution to be repaid with interest
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sum, sum of money, amount, amount of money
9
noun
Meaning 9
a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: donation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: gift
Narrower terms: benefaction, offering, political contribution, political donation
History
Etymology
From Middle English contribucioun, contribucion, from Old French contribution, from Latin contribūtiōnem, contribūtiō, from Latin contribuēre. By surface analysis, contribute + -ion.
Across languages
Translations
180 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
bydrae
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Arabic:
مُسَاهَمَة
(musāhama)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Armenian:
ներդրում
(nerdrum)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Armenian:
օժանդակություն
(ōžandakutʻyun)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Armenian:
աջակցություն
(aǰakcʻutʻyun)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Armenian:
ավանդ
(avand)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Azerbaijani:
töhfə
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Belarusian:
унёсак
(unjósak)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Belarusian:
укла́д
(uklád)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Bulgarian:
при́нос
(prínos)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Bulgarian:
уча́стие
(učástie)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Catalan:
contribució
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Chinese Mandarin:
貢獻 /贡献
(gòngxiàn)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Crimean Tatar:
isse
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Czech:
příspěvek
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Danish:
bidrag
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Dutch:
bijdrage
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Dutch:
contributie
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Esperanto:
kontribuo
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Estonian:
panus
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Finnish:
myötävaikutus
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
French:
contribution
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Galician:
contribución
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Georgian:
წვლილი
(c̣vlili)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
German:
Beitrag
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Greek:
εισφορά
(eisforá)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Ancient Greek:
εἰσφορά
(eisphorá)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Hebrew:
תְּרוּמָה
(truma)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Hindi:
योगदान
(yogdān)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Hungarian:
hozzájárulás
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Ido:
kontributajo
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Indonesian:
kontribusi
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Indonesian:
peranan
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Italian:
contributo
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Japanese:
貢献
(kōken)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Korean:
기여
(giyeo)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Korean:
공헌
(gongheon)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Latin:
stips
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Luxembourgish:
Kontributioun
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Macedonian:
придонес
(pridones)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Malayalam:
സംഭാവന
(sambhāvana)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Māori:
whakapoha
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Navajo:
akʼeʼeeshchínígíí
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Nepali:
योगदान
(yogadān)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Norwegian Bokmål:
bidrag
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Norwegian Nynorsk:
bidrag
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Persian:
همکاری
(hamkâri)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Plautdietsch:
Beschäarunk
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Plautdietsch:
Biedrach
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Polish:
wkład
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Portuguese:
contribuição
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Romanian:
contribuție
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Russian:
вклад
(vklad)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Russian:
уча́стие
(učástije)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Scots:
contreibution
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Serbo-Croatian:
до̏принос
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Serbo-Croatian:
контрибу́ција
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Serbo-Croatian:
dȍprinos
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Serbo-Croatian:
kontribúcija
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Slovak:
príspevok
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Slovene:
prispevek
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Spanish:
contribución
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Spanish:
aporte
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Spanish:
cotización
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Spanish:
aportación
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Swedish:
bidrag
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Tagalog:
ambag
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Tagalog:
tap-ong
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Turkish:
katkı
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Turkish:
katılım payı
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Ukrainian:
вне́сок
(vnésok)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Welsh:
cyfraniad
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Yiddish:
בײַשטײַערונג
(bayshtayerung)
— something given or offered that adds to a larger whole
Afrikaans:
bydrae
— an amount of money given toward something
Armenian:
մուծում
(mucum)
— an amount of money given toward something
Armenian:
վճար
(včar)
— an amount of money given toward something
Belarusian:
узно́с
(uznós)
— an amount of money given toward something
Belarusian:
ахвярава́нне
(axvjaravánnje)
— an amount of money given toward something
Belarusian:
нада́нне
(nadánnje)
— an amount of money given toward something
Belarusian:
фу́ндуш
(fúnduš)
— an amount of money given toward something
Belarusian:
унёсак
(unjósak)
— an amount of money given toward something
Bulgarian:
при́нос
(prínos)
— an amount of money given toward something
Bulgarian:
дан
(dan)
— an amount of money given toward something
Bulgarian:
пожертвува́ние
(požertvuvánie)
— an amount of money given toward something
Catalan:
contribució
— an amount of money given toward something
Czech:
příspěvek
— an amount of money given toward something
Danish:
bidrag
— an amount of money given toward something
Dutch:
bijdrage
— an amount of money given toward something
Dutch:
financiële bijdrage
— an amount of money given toward something
Dutch:
contributie
— an amount of money given toward something
Finnish:
tuki
— an amount of money given toward something
Finnish:
avustus
— an amount of money given toward something
French:
contribution
— an amount of money given toward something
French:
contribution financière
— an amount of money given toward something
Galician:
contribución
— an amount of money given toward something
Georgian:
შენატანი
(šenaṭani)
— an amount of money given toward something
Georgian:
შეწირულობა
(šec̣iruloba)
— an amount of money given toward something
Georgian:
შესატანი
(šesaṭani)
— an amount of money given toward something
Georgian:
შენაწირი
(šenac̣iri)
— an amount of money given toward something
Georgian:
შესაწირი
(šesac̣iri)
— an amount of money given toward something
German:
Beitrag
— an amount of money given toward something
German:
finanzieller Beitrag
— an amount of money given toward something
Greek:
εισφορά
(eisforá)
— an amount of money given toward something
Hebrew:
תרומה
(truma)
— an amount of money given toward something
Hungarian:
hozzájárulás
— an amount of money given toward something
Hungarian:
anyagi hozzájárulás
— an amount of money given toward something
Hungarian:
adomány
— an amount of money given toward something
Hungarian:
pénzadomány
— an amount of money given toward something
Ido:
kontributajo
— an amount of money given toward something
Indonesian:
iuran
— an amount of money given toward something
Indonesian:
sumbangan
— an amount of money given toward something
Irish:
ranníocaíocht
— an amount of money given toward something
Latin:
stips
— an amount of money given toward something
Malayalam:
സംഭാവന
(sambhāvana)
— an amount of money given toward something
Meänkieli:
piitraaki
— an amount of money given toward something
Norwegian Bokmål:
bidrag
— an amount of money given toward something
Norwegian Nynorsk:
bidrag
— an amount of money given toward something
Persian:
همکاری
(hamkâri)
— an amount of money given toward something
Polish:
datek
— an amount of money given toward something
Portuguese:
contribuição
— an amount of money given toward something
Portuguese:
doação
— an amount of money given toward something
Romanian:
donație
— an amount of money given toward something
Russian:
взнос
(vznos)
— an amount of money given toward something
Russian:
поже́ртвование
(požértvovanije)
— an amount of money given toward something
Russian:
дань
(danʹ)
— an amount of money given toward something
Serbo-Croatian:
до̏принос
— an amount of money given toward something
Serbo-Croatian:
контрибу́ција
— an amount of money given toward something
Serbo-Croatian:
dȍprinos
— an amount of money given toward something
Serbo-Croatian:
kontribúcija
— an amount of money given toward something
Spanish:
contribución
— an amount of money given toward something
Swedish:
bidrag
— an amount of money given toward something
Ukrainian:
вне́сок
(vnésok)
— an amount of money given toward something
Ukrainian:
поже́ртвування
(požértvuvannja)
— an amount of money given toward something
Ukrainian:
офірува́ння
(ofiruvánnja)
— an amount of money given toward something
Ukrainian:
данина́
(danyná)
— an amount of money given toward something
Ukrainian:
дань
(danʹ)
— an amount of money given toward something
Ukrainian:
поже́ртва
(požértva)
— an amount of money given toward something
Afrikaans:
bydrae
— the act of contributing
Arabic:
مُسَاهَمَة
(musāhama)
— the act of contributing
Armenian:
ներդրում
(nerdrum)
— the act of contributing
Azerbaijani:
töhfə
— the act of contributing
Belarusian:
унёсак
(unjósak)
— the act of contributing
Belarusian:
укла́д
(uklád)
— the act of contributing
Catalan:
contribució
— the act of contributing
Chinese Mandarin:
貢獻 /贡献
(gòngxiàn)
— the act of contributing
Czech:
přispění
— the act of contributing
Danish:
bidrag
— the act of contributing
Dutch:
bijdrage
— the act of contributing
Dutch:
bijdragen
— the act of contributing
Finnish:
avustaminen
— the act of contributing
French:
contribution
— the act of contributing
Galician:
contribución
— the act of contributing
Georgian:
წვლილი
(c̣vlili)
— the act of contributing
Georgian:
კონტრიბუცია
(ḳonṭribucia)
— the act of contributing
German:
Beitrag
— the act of contributing
German:
Beitragen
— the act of contributing
Greek:
συνεισφορά
(syneisforá)
— the act of contributing
Hebrew:
תרומה
(truma)
— the act of contributing
Hungarian:
hozzájárulás
— the act of contributing
Hungarian:
közreműködés
— the act of contributing
Ido:
kontributo
— the act of contributing
Indonesian:
sumbangsih
— the act of contributing
Italian:
contribuzione
— the act of contributing
Japanese:
貢献
(kōken)
— the act of contributing
Malay:
sumbangan
— the act of contributing
Persian:
همکاری
(hamkâri)
— the act of contributing
Polish:
kontrybucja
— the act of contributing
Polish:
wniesienie wkładu
— the act of contributing
Portuguese:
contribuição
— the act of contributing
Romanian:
contribuire
— the act of contributing
Romanian:
contribuție
— the act of contributing
Russian:
вклад
(vklad)
— the act of contributing
Serbo-Croatian:
доприношење
— the act of contributing
Serbo-Croatian:
doprinošenje
— the act of contributing
Spanish:
contribución
— the act of contributing
Spanish:
aportación
— the act of contributing
Tagalog:
abuloy
— the act of contributing
Tagalog:
ambag
— the act of contributing
Tagalog:
kontribusyon
— the act of contributing
Ukrainian:
вне́сок
(vnésok)
— the act of contributing