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

But what do these benefactors want in return?

From BBC

An anonymous benefactor is offering a £100,000 reward for information on a missing man's whereabouts.

From BBC

The benefactor making possible Israel’s military prowess, the U.S. government, has compiled a gruesome record of its own in this century.

From Salon

Tesla briefly had a powerful benefactor in Wall Street king J.P.

From Los Angeles Times

Prem Rugby hopes it is the start of a new sustainable era, in which clubs are owned and grown by corporate investors, rather than propped up by local business owners and benefactors.

From BBC

Related Words

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