What does gifting mean?
Gifting most often names the act or custom of giving presents, especially during holidays, celebrations, or promotional campaigns. It can also function as the present participle of gift, meaning to give someone something: a foundation may be gifting books to schools, while a shop advertises convenient holiday gifting. As a noun, it usually suggests a recurring social or commercial practice rather than a single transfer. Its frequent use in retail and seasonal contexts gives it a mildly commercial undertone. Gift is broader in some contexts because a gift may be intangible, such as an advantage, opportunity, or natural talent, whereas gifting normally points to the deliberate act of presentation. The word is ordinary in contemporary British and American English and is particularly useful when discussing the culture, logistics, or ethics of exchanging presents. It can be distinguished from giving, which does not necessarily involve a gift, and from gifted, which describes notable talent.
The activity or practice of giving gifts, especially as a recurring social, seasonal, or commercial custom.
"Holiday gifting can be stressful when there are many relatives to buy for."
It is often treated as an uncountable activity noun, though the plural giftings can be used rarely for separate acts of gift-giving.
Giving someone a gift; presenting someone with something.
"The company is gifting subscriptions to its customers."
This is the present participle of gift and is normally used transitively.
This plural is rare; gifting is usually treated as an uncountable activity noun, with gifts used when referring to individual presents.
"The annual giftings have become more elaborate in recent years."
A gift can mean a natural talent as well as a present, so gifting carries the broader idea of bestowing something of value.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gifting come from?
Gifting is formed from gift. Gift entered Middle English from Old Norse gipt, meaning a gift or something bestowed, alongside the cognate Old English gifu; both belong to a Germanic word family associated with giving and endowment. English developed gift for both an object presented and an innate talent, while gifting came to denote the act or gerund of giving a gift.
How gifting is actually used
The noun is especially common in seasonal, retail, and promotional contexts, where it can have a mildly commercial undertone. As a verb form, it is neutral and normally transitive.
Easily confused with gifting
Gifted is normally an adjective meaning exceptionally talented, whereas gifting is a noun for giving gifts or a verb form meaning to give a gift.