sponsor

American  

[spon-ser] / ˈspɒn sər /

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

   Synonyms:

   underwrite , back , finance , guarantee

sponsor British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (tr) to act as a sponsor for

Other Word Forms

• sponsorial adjective
• sponsorship noun
• unsponsored adjective

Etymology

Origin of sponsor

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

Example Sentences

There are different kinds of art criticism — theoretical, and academic, two that turn up in different kinds of scholarly journals; trade, sponsored in commercially supported magazines; and journalistic, embedded in press reporting on everyday life.

From Los Angeles Times

The sponsors pitched the tax as hitting only some 2,500 people in the country, or the top 0.03% of the population.

From The Wall Street Journal

All over the city, you see signs advertising projects sponsored by the Public Investment Fund, the oil-backed sovereign wealth fund overseeing the gargantuan investments in the kingdom’s no-holds-barred metamorphosis.

From Los Angeles Times

But after Labor Day, he started getting calls from sponsors and runners who were eager to participate.

From Los Angeles Times

Supporters can sponsor the animals and visit them on Sundays when the barn is open to the public; tickets are $27.03 for those 13 and older and $16.22 for ages 2 to 12.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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