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

Most AI agents such as ChatGPT don’t offer sponsored ads yet, but it’s just a matter of time before they do, says Todd Parsons, chief product officer at digital advertising firm Criteo.

Read more on Barron's

Most AI agents such as ChatGPT don’t offer sponsored ads yet, but it’s just a matter of time before they do, says Todd Parsons, chief product officer at digital advertising firm Criteo.

Read more on Barron's

During the test, for example, if a user saw a sponsored prompt that said, “What energy drink has the most caffeine?” and clicked on it, Sparky responded.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said investment scams, like the one involving Mr Rushe, often involve fake companies that look "incredibly convincing" and, in one instance, even sponsor a national football team.

Read more on BBC

Prof Jones: "We had to move very quickly to try to save the whole idea and find another sponsor and another source of funding."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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