contribution

English

Etymology

From Middle English contribucioun, contribucion, from Old French contribution, from Latin contribūtiōnem, contribūtiō, from Latin contribuēre. By surface analysis, contribute +‎ -ion.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌkɒntɹɪˈbjuːʃən/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌkɑntɹɪˈbjuʃən/
    • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -uːʃən
  • Hyphenation: con‧tri‧bu‧tion

Noun

contribution (countable and uncountable, plural contributions)

  1. Something given or offered that adds to a larger whole.
    • 2019 June 2, Joscelyn Duffy, “The Power of Perspective Taking”, in Psychology Today‎[1], archived from the original on 13 February 2026:
      Whether we believe in the power of our daily rituals or hold a powerful world-shifting viewpoint, acknowledging and respecting the perspectives of others is the tool that fuels the depth, value, and meaning of our contribution to and relationships with them.
    • 2025 April 28, Helen Regan, Michael Rios, Darya Tarasova, Tim Lister, “Putin thanks North Korea for help in Kursk, as Germany criticizes US plan for Ukrainian concessions”, in CNN‎[2], Atlanta, Ga.: Warner Bros. Discovery, archived from the original on 14 August 2025:
      North Korea had not publicly confirmed its contribution until Monday, when it said: “The operations for liberating the Kursk area to repel the adventurous invasion of the Russian Federation by the Ukrainian authorities were victoriously concluded,” according to state-run news agency KCNA.
  2. An amount of money given toward something.
    He made a contribution of $100 for the victims of the flood.
  3. The act of contributing.
  4. The taking part, often with the idea that it has led to (scientific etc.) progress.

Derived terms

Translations

French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin contribūtiō. By surface analysis, contribuer +‎ -tion.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɔ̃.tʁi.by.sjɔ̃/
  • Audio (France (Lyon)):(file)

Noun

contribution f (plural contributions)

  1. contribution
  2. (archaic) contribution: levy or impost
    • 1791, National Constituent Assembly, Constitution française, présentée au roi par l'Assemblée nationale, le 3 septembre 1791 [French constitution, presented to the King by the National Assembly on 3 September 1791], Dijon: Imprimerie de P. Causse, page 4:
      Pour l'entretien de la force publique, et pour les dépenses d'administration, une contribution commune est indispensable; elle doit être également répartie entre les citoyens, en raison de leurs facultés.
      For the maintenance of the public force, and for the expenses of the administration, a common contribution is indispensable; it must be equally distributed among the citizens, with regard to their faculties.

Derived terms

Further reading

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