Meaning & use
dowry
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money, goods, or property that a woman's family gives to her husband or his family at marriage, in some cultures.
See it in a sentence
In the story, the family struggled for years to save enough for their daughter's dowry.
The custom of paying a dowry has declined sharply in many countries.
A note on using this word
Distinct from a 'bride price,' which is paid by the groom's family to the bride's family — the two customs move in opposite directions.
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