1. The right in English ecclesiastical law of a presentation to a vacant benefice, a right exercised by nomination of a clergyman to such church or other benefice (a church office that provides a living for its holder through an endowment [money] attached to it).
2. In English law, a right of presentation to a vacant benefice; or in other words, a right of nominating a person to officiate in a vacant church.

Advowsons are of three kinds:

• Presentative, when the patron presents his clerk to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted.
• Collative, when the bishop is the patron, and institutes, or collates his clerk, by a single act.
• Donative, when a church is founded by the king, and assigned to the patron, without being subject to the ordinary, so that the patron confers the benefice on his clerk, without presentation, institution, or induction.

3. Etymology: from Middle English avouson, from Old French avoeson, from Medieval Latin advocatia, from Latin advocatio, "a summoning", from advocare, "to summon".