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.
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
He’s been called a thief, a benefactor, a commoner, a lord, a killer and a hero.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026
With this visit, President Xi will feel he has done enough to remind Kim that his main benefactor is China.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Fear of Covid triggered border closures that caused a plunge in trade with China, North Korea’s main benefactor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
My mother graciously thanked the unknown benefactor, saying, “Too good. Cost too much.”
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
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.
