contributor

American  

[kuhn-trib-yuh-ter] / kənˈtrɪb jə tər /

noun

• contributors
  plural

1. a person who contributes money, assistance, etc.

2. a person who contributes an article, story, etc., to a newspaper, magazine, or the like.

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contributor British  

/ kənˈtrɪbjʊtə /

noun

1. a person who contributes, esp one who writes for a newspaper or one who makes a donation to a cause, etc

2. something that is a factor in or is partly responsible for something

   alcohol was a contributor to his death

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncontributor
  noun
• contributorial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• contributors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of contributor

1400–50; late Middle English contributour < Anglo-French. See contribute, -tor

Explanation

A contributor is someone who takes part in something or makes a contribution. Writers and people who donate money in particular are called contributors. Writers whose work is included in a book, magazine, or newspaper are called contributors. Some have specific titles like "contributing editor" or "contributing writer." If you give money for a cause or a company, that contribution also makes you a contributor. This word is used mainly for writing and donating, but it can be used in other cases for people who help with something. The surest way not to be called a contributor is to do nothing: contributors have to contribute.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contributor contributors

Meanwhile France, the second-biggest European economy and a net contributor to the budget, argues the continent needs sufficient means to match the rising challenges the 27-country bloc faces.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

Before Marc Lamont Hill was helping elevate the conversation on one of the country’s biggest podcasts, I watched him school Bill O’Reilly as a Fox contributor and Temple University professor.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026

Debris from dying cells is a major contributor to inflammatory responses, so understanding how tissues remove that material may reveal new clues about what happens when the cleanup process fails.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026

“We love the tourism industry—it’s a major contributor to our economy,” said Marubu.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

I’m afraid I was a contributor to it.”

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

Smoke from forest fires, crop burning and cooking are significant contributors to Africa's air pollution while Saharan dust travels as far as Europe.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

Wholesale trade also weakened after being one of the biggest contributors to Canada’s growth in June, though some other service-producing industries expanded, including real estate, accommodation and food, and architectural, engineering and related services.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

The city’s matching fund program allows candidates to receive $6 in public funds for every $1 they receive from local contributors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

We can all be net contributors, but you can’t solve homelessness by yourself.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

We are not complacent about the average age of our contributors and are keen to publish promising young writers.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

• donor
• giver
• patron