What does bequest mean?
A bequest is money or personal property that a person leaves to another through a will, taking effect upon the giver's death. The word belongs primarily to legal and formal registers, appearing in wills, probate documents, estate planning, and news about charitable giving. Someone might make a bequest to family members, friends, or institutions such as universities, hospitals, museums, and charities, and such gifts often play a significant role in nonprofit funding. In strict legal usage, a bequest traditionally referred to personal property, while real estate passed by 'devise,' though modern usage tends to blur this distinction. The related verb is 'bequeath.' Connotations are generally positive and dignified, suggesting generosity, foresight, and a lasting connection between generations. Because it captures the idea of giving beyond one's own lifetime, 'bequest' is a useful and precise term for anyone writing about wills, inheritance, or philanthropy, and it carries more legal weight than the everyday word 'gift.'
A gift of personal property, especially money, made in a will; the act of leaving such property to someone.
"Her bequest established a scholarship fund for first-generation students."
In traditional legal usage, distinguished from 'devise,' which applies to real property; modern usage often treats them interchangeably.
The action or practice of bequeathing property by will.
"The charity relies heavily on bequests from supporters who include it in their wills."
Often used in the plural when referring to the general practice of leaving gifts in wills.
Standard regular plural; commonly pluralized when discussing multiple gifts or the general practice of giving through wills.
"The university received several substantial bequests last year."
Every bequest begins as a sentence: the word comes from the Old English 'becwethan,' meaning 'to say'—because in early law, a will was literally your spoken statement.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bequest
'Bequest' derives from the Old English verb 'becwethan,' formed from the prefix 'be-' plus 'cwethan,' meaning 'to say' or 'to speak.' In early Germanic legal custom, a will was essentially a spoken declaration of one's wishes, which is why words for saying came to denote testamentary gifts. It entered Middle English around the fourteenth century, influenced by Anglo-Norman legal French. It shares its Germanic root with the verbs 'bequeath' and 'quote,' and ultimately connects to Latin 'quotare' via 'quoth,' reflecting the ancient link between speaking and declaring.
Related word forms
How bequest is actually used
Formal register, used chiefly in legal contexts and discussions of wills and estates. 'Legacy' is broader and more common in everyday speech; 'bequest' specifically denotes property transferred by will, and in strict legal usage refers mainly to personal property rather than real estate (which passes by 'devise').
Easily confused with bequest
A request is an act of asking for something, while a bequest is a gift of property left in a will.