A woman's dowry is the money and goods which, in some cultures, her family gives to the man that she marries.
The money from her dowry was invested in her mother's store.
Synonyms: portion, marriage settlement, dot [archaic], lobola [South Africa] More Synonyms of dowry
dowry in British English
(ˈdaʊərɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ries
1.
the money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
2.
(esp formerly) a gift made by a man to his bride or her parents
3. Christianity
a sum of money required on entering certain orders of nuns
4.
a natural talent or gift
5. obsolete
a widow's dower
Word origin
C14: from Anglo-French douarie, from Medieval Latin dōtārium; see dower
dowry in American English
(ˈdauri)
nounWord forms: plural-ries
1. (esp. formerly)
the money, goods, or estate that a wife brings to her husband at marriage
Also: dower
2. archaic
a widow's dower
3.
a natural gift, endowment, talent, etc
Also: dowery
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME dowerie ‹ AF douarie ‹ ML dōtārium. See dot2, -ary]
Examples of 'dowry' in a sentence
dowry
The huge dowries foisted upon the families of young women are seen as a greater social evil.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Entrance into these communities became contingent on wealth as nunneries demanded that postulants provide dowries.
Christianity Today (2000)
But since the economy got into trouble, women take their dowry to save themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
(noun)
Definition
the property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
The money from her dowry was invested.
Synonyms
portion
marriage settlement
dot (archaic)
lobola (South Africa)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lobola
Definition
(in southern Africa) an African custom by which a bridegroom's family makes a payment in cattle or cash to the bride's family shortly before the marriage