WordGarden.iodonee
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /dˈəʊniː/
US
Meanings
Noun
a person who receives a gift or donation, especially in legal contexts
Beyond the definition
A "donee" isn't someone who does something. It is the person or group that receives something, usually a gift or donation. For example, if someone gives money to a charity, the charity is the donee. This is a formal word, most often used in legal, financial, and charitable writing. You would not usually use it in everyday speech, but you might see it in a document that explains who received a gift or donation. In short, the donee is on the receiving side.
The word "donee" refers to a person or organization that receives something, usually a gift, property, or donation. It is mostly used in formal and legal settings, especially when people want to be exact about who received something. The counterpart to "donee" is "donor," the person or group giving the gift or donation.
Imagine Old Man Fitzwilliam signing papers to give a piece of land to his granddaughter, Clara. In that case, Clara would be the donee because she is the one receiving the gift. In the same way, if a wealthy philanthropist donates money to a museum, the museum is the donee.
You'll often encounter "donee" in legal documents such as deeds of gift, grant papers, and charitable donation agreements. It is used to clearly identify who is receiving something of value. In everyday conversation, people usually say "recipient" or sometimes "beneficiary," but "donee" is useful when a more exact legal word is needed.
The word shares its roots with "donation" and "donor," coming from the Latin donare, meaning "to give." Even though the spelling may remind you of the word "done," the meaning is about receiving, not doing. Understanding "donee" helps you read legal and financial English more easily, because it quickly tells you who received the gift, property, or donation.
Examples
- 1
Legal gift
Under the deed, the donee had to accept the gift in writing.
- Usagedonee
a formal legal word for the person who receives a gift
- 2
Tax form
The tax form asked for the names of both the donor and the donee.
- 3
Estate refusal
If the donee refuses the property, it returns to the estate.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- doneenoun