contributions

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Amounts of money, goods, or help that people give to a person, group, or cause.

   Grammar: Countable; the singular is 'contribution'. Often used with 'make' or 'give'.

   Patterns

   • make contributions to something
   • contributions from someone
   • contributions of something

   The charity received generous contributions from local businesses.

   Many small contributions can add up to a large sum.

   Her contributions of time and money helped the project succeed.

2. 2nouncountable

   Ideas, work, or efforts that help to achieve or improve something.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'make' or 'significant'.

   Patterns

   • make a contribution to something
   • a contribution to knowledge
   • significant contributions

   She made important contributions to the field of medicine.

   His contributions to the discussion were always thoughtful.

   The team acknowledged everyone's contributions to the success of the event.

3. 3nounpluralfinance

   Regular payments made by an employee and often an employer into a pension or insurance plan.

   Grammar: Usually plural in this sense; the singular 'contribution' can also be used.

   Patterns

   • pension contributions
   • make contributions to a fund

   He pays monthly contributions into his retirement account.

   The company matches its employees' pension contributions up to a certain amount.

   After ten years of contributions, she was eligible for full benefits.

Word forms

Common combinations

make a contribution

Everyone is encouraged to make a contribution to the discussion.

a significant contribution

Her research made a significant contribution to our understanding of climate change.

charitable contributions

Charitable contributions can be deducted from your taxes.

political contributions

Political contributions are strictly regulated by law.

contributions to society

Volunteering is a way to make contributions to society.

Synonyms and how they differ

donation

Specifically money or goods given to a charity; 'contribution' is broader and can include effort or ideas.

input

Emphasizes ideas or advice given, not money; 'contribution' can refer to money as well.

donation

Often used for gifts to organizations; 'contribution' can also mean a regular payment into a fund.

Word family

contribute verb

To give money, help, or ideas to something.

contributor noun

A person who gives money, help, or ideas.

contributory adjective

Involving payments made by employees and employers, as in a pension scheme.

Commonly confused: contributions or attributions?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “contributions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words