noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of benefactor
1425–75; late Middle English benefactour < Late Latin; see bene-, factor
Explanation
Every school, museum, and struggling artist is in search for a generous benefactor, or someone to provide the financial means to keep everything running smoothly. The Latin roots of benefactor are bene, which means "well," and facere, which means "to do" — literally, "to do well." A benefactor does well by supporting (usually financially) a person or a good cause. In the old days, a struggling artist or actor might have been supported by a wealthy benefactor. Now, many struggling artists and actors have to rely on waiting tables and other odd jobs instead.
Vocabulary lists containing benefactor
Take the Bad with the Good: Bene and Mal
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Giving Words
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Make Do: Fac
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill director Tarantino is reportedly playing the role of a wealthy benefactor in the drama, which is set in Wales as well as being filmed there.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Let’s say your benefactor bought the house for $500,000, and the house was worth $1.5 million when you inherited it.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
Despite their historically complex relationship, the two countries share a border and China has long been the North Korean regime’s largest benefactor and trading partner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
In the 1870s, Leland Stanford, the railroad magnate and benefactor of the university that bears his name, funded an effort to find out.
From Slate ● May 25, 2026
Reward of ingratitoode to his earliest benefactor, and founder of fortun’s.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Supported by unnamed donors, he offers encouragement and religious-based morale boosts to politicians or their mutual benefactors.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
“I think the market is saying these financial companies are going to be the biggest benefactors of AI,” with margin and operational efficiency improvements, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 4, 2026
India may be one of the greatest benefactors of the new global trading order.
From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026
The gift pushes Duffield’s total philanthropy to the school to $550 million, making him one of the largest university benefactors in the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
“Why do you wish to destroy your benefactors? They have food for you, but they cannot give it to you until you do what they want.”
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
