sponsor

[spon-ser]

noun

1. a person who vouches or is responsible for a person or thing.

   Synonyms: guarantor, backer, patron

2. a person, firm, organization, etc., that finances and buys the time to broadcast a radio or television program so as to advertise a product, a political party, etc.

   Synonyms: advertiser

3. a person who makes a pledge or promise on behalf of another.

4. Christianity.,  a person who promises to mentor a youth or new convert preparing for confirmation or initiation, or who answers for an infant at baptism.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as sponsor for; promise, vouch, or answer for.

   Synonyms: underwrite, back, finance, guarantee

sponsor

/ ˈspɒnsə, spɒnˈsɔːrɪəl /

noun

1. 1. a commercial organization that pays all or part of the cost of putting on a concert, sporting event, etc

   2. a person who donates money to a charity when the person requesting the donation has performed a specified activity as part of an organized fund-raising effort

2. a person or business firm that pays the costs of a radio or television programme in return for advertising time

3. a legislator who presents and supports a bill, motion, etc

4. Also called: godparent. 

   1. an authorized witness who makes the required promises on behalf of a person to be baptized and thereafter assumes responsibility for his Christian upbringing

   2. a person who presents a candidate for confirmation

5. a person who undertakes responsibility for the actions, statements, obligations, etc, of another, as during a period of apprenticeship; guarantor

verb

1. (tr) to act as a sponsor for

Other Word Forms

• sponsorial adjective
• sponsorship noun
• unsponsored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sponsor¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin spōnsor “guarantor,” equivalent to spond(ēre) “to pledge” + -tor -tor, with dt becoming s

Word History and Origins

Origin of sponsor¹

C17: from Latin, from spondēre to promise solemnly

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, you can take withdrawals from your 457 plan without a penalty before age 59½ if you’re no longer employed by the plan sponsor and/or if the sponsor no longer offers the plan.

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Thousands of potential targets are available for private-equity sponsors with billions of dollars of dry powder.

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“If we were to partner with a PE sponsor, it has got to be the right one and for the right reason,” Strammello said.

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She said Cantor has no nonpublic information about the administration’s initiatives and noted that the firm was the underwriter, not the sponsor of the SPAC.

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In another instance, she said, a prominent programmer dropped her documentary two days beforehand due to pressure from sponsors.

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Related Words

• advocate 
• backer 
• benefactor 
• patron 
• promoter 
• supporter 
• underwriter