benefactor

[ben-uh-fak-ter, ben-uh-fak-]

noun

1. a person who confers a benefit; kindly helper.

2. a person who makes a bequest or endowment, as to an institution.

   Synonyms: protector, backer, sponsor, supporter, patron

benefactor

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfæk-, ˈbɛnɪˌfæktə /

noun

1. a person who supports or helps a person, institution, etc, esp by giving money; patron

Other Word Forms

• benefactress noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of benefactor¹

1425–75; late Middle English benefactour < Late Latin; bene-, factor

Example Sentences

There was little chance that the spoiled young mistress of Ashton Place would become a benefactor to Swanburne—or Swansong, as she sometimes glibly called the school.

Read more on Literature

Yass, a major donor to Republican causes and co-founder of trading giant Susquehanna International Group, which has a big stake in TikTok’s parent company, has been the school’s largest benefactor to date.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Rinaudo plans to use his home theater and museum space — a temple to his passion — to put on shows and screenings for benefactors and offer limited group tours and educational opportunities for children.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Moscow has long sought to present itself as a benefactor to countries across Africa and much of the developing world, motivated in part by the hope of gaining permanent access to the Indian Ocean.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But what do these benefactors want in return?

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• backer 
• contributor 
• patron 
• philanthropist 
• promoter 
• protector 
• supporter