contributor
Americannoun
-
a person who contributes money, assistance, etc.
-
a person who contributes an article, story, etc., to a newspaper, magazine, or the like.
noun
-
a person who contributes, esp one who writes for a newspaper or one who makes a donation to a cause, etc
-
something that is a factor in or is partly responsible for something
alcohol was a contributor to his death
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of contributor
1400–50; late Middle English contributour < Anglo-French. See contribute, -tor
Explanation
A contributor is someone who takes part in something or makes a contribution. Writers and people who donate money in particular are called contributors. Writers whose work is included in a book, magazine, or newspaper are called contributors. Some have specific titles like "contributing editor" or "contributing writer." If you give money for a cause or a company, that contribution also makes you a contributor. This word is used mainly for writing and donating, but it can be used in other cases for people who help with something. The surest way not to be called a contributor is to do nothing: contributors have to contribute.
Vocabulary lists containing contributor
"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, Act I
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"CLEP Principles of Management," Vocabulary from Chapter 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The American Pageant," Vocabulary from Chapters 40-42
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
He is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, co-founder of the Security Policy Reform Institute, and contributor to the Costs of War Project at Brown University.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
Housing, which has the biggest weighting in the CPI basket, was the largest contributor to annual inflation with a 6.3% rise.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
It is also considered a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases.
From Science Daily • May 26, 2026
Coal is a key contributor to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, and phasing it out is crucial to taming climate change.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
A contributor to Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser who went by the initials “A. B.” could be seen poking around rainwater barrels in his neighborhood.
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
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.
