contribution

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tri•bu•tion /ˌkɑntrəˈbyuʃən/   n. 

1. [uncountable] the act of contributing.
2. something contributed:
   [countable] made several contributions to the meeting.
3. a piece of writing or a drawing provided for publication:
   [countable] This issue features contributions from two of the most respected scientists in the world.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tri•bu•tion  (kon′trə byo̅o̅′shən), n. 

1. the act of contributing.
2. something contributed.
3. an article, story, drawing, etc., furnished to a magazine or other publication.
4. Business an impost or levy.
5. Business [Insurance.] the method of distributing liability, in case of loss, among several insurers whose policies attach to the same risk.

• Late Latin contribūtiōn- (stem of contribūtiō). See contribute, -ion
• Anglo-French)
• Middle English contribucio(u)n (1350–1400

con′tri•bu′tion•al, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. gift, donation, benefaction.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

contribution / ˌkɒntrɪˈbjuːʃən/ noun

1. the act of contributing
2. something contributed, such as money or ideas
3. an article, story, etc, contributed to a newspaper or other publication
4. a levy, esp towards the cost of a war