noun
- money, goods, or property that a woman’s family gives to her husband when she marries
Usage: traditional practice; varies by culture
Examples
- Her parents saved for years to provide a proper dowry.
- The dowry included jewelry, household items, and money.
- In some cultures, the size of the dowry reflects the family’s wealth.
- The practice of giving a dowry has declined in many modern societies.
- They negotiated the terms of the dowry before the wedding.
- The dowry was meant to help the young couple start their new life together.