sponsor

[ spon-ser ]

noun

1. a person who vouches or is responsible for a person or thing.

   Synonyms: guarantor, backer, patron

2. a person, firm, organization, etc., that finances and buys the time to broadcast a radio or television program so as to advertise a product, a political party, etc.

   Synonyms: advertiser

3. a person who makes a pledge or promise on behalf of another.
4. Christianity. a person who promises to mentor a youth or new convert preparing for confirmation or initiation, or who answers for an infant at baptism.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as sponsor for; promise, vouch, or answer for.

   Synonyms: underwrite, back, finance, guarantee

sponsor

/ ˈspɒnsə; spɒnˈsɔːrɪəl /

noun

1. a person or group that provides funds for an activity, esp
   1. a commercial organization that pays all or part of the cost of putting on a concert, sporting event, etc
   2. a person who donates money to a charity when the person requesting the donation has performed a specified activity as part of an organized fund-raising effort
2. a person or business firm that pays the costs of a radio or television programme in return for advertising time
3. a legislator who presents and supports a bill, motion, etc
4. Also calledgodparent
   1. an authorized witness who makes the required promises on behalf of a person to be baptized and thereafter assumes responsibility for his Christian upbringing
   2. a person who presents a candidate for confirmation
5. a person who undertakes responsibility for the actions, statements, obligations, etc, of another, as during a period of apprenticeship; guarantor

verb

1. tr to act as a sponsor for

Derived Forms

• ˈsponsorˌship, noun
• sponsorial, adjective

Other Words From

• spon·so·ri·al [spon-, sawr, -ee-, uh, l], adjective
• spon·sor·ship noun
• un·spon·sored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sponsor¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin spōnsor “guarantor,” equivalent to spond(ēre) “to pledge” + -tor -tor, with dt becoming s

Word History and Origins

Origin of sponsor¹

C17: from Latin, from spondēre to promise solemnly

Example Sentences

For example, Disrupt will feature more branded content sessions and presentations than in years past, and sponsors will be able to more easily track who attends those presentations, giving them a chance to gather leads.

From Digiday

Instead of seeking out a small number of exclusive launch sponsors that would pay tens of millions of dollars, WarnerMedia is looking for a broad array of advertisers to run ads across HBO Max.

From Digiday

Broadcast sponsor, Procter & Gamble, is co-producing and co-financing the show’s production, said Orefice.

From Digiday

Financial institutions like Citibank and DBS Bank and insurance providers like State Farm and American Family Insurance have been sponsors for this series.

From Digiday

The proposal’s sponsors say beefed-up training, daily check-ins and weekly visits would lead to greater patient safety.

From Voice of San Diego

Delta was a sponsor of the HRC dinner here in Atlanta and I went and met her there.

From The Daily Beast

SPONSOR: The Daily Beast Company LLC (555 W. 18th St., New York, NY, 10011).

From The Daily Beast

Entries are subject to all notices posted online including but not limited to privacy policies of the Sponsor.

From The Daily Beast

Cruz is a co-sponsor of the bill, along with libertarian-minded Sen. Mike Lee.

From The Daily Beast

And he has been involved in the Mind and Life Institute, the sponsor of the ISCS conference, from its inception.

From The Daily Beast

But despite so distinguished a sponsor, the books remained generally unknown.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter replied: “No; I won't do that, and I will stand sponsor for it yet once more.”

From Project Gutenberg

The failure to find a firm to stand sponsor for his book discouraged Whitman to the extent of planning to go West and pioneer.

From Project Gutenberg

Part of that five minutes, too, was taken up by advertising matter from a sponsor.

From Project Gutenberg

At birth a sort of sponsor for the child was summoned, and he was given more authority than the parent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• advocate
• backer
• benefactor
• patron
• promoter
• supporter
• underwriter