sponsor
Americannoun
-
a person who vouches or is responsible for a person or thing.
-
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
-
a person who makes a pledge or promise on behalf of another.
-
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)
noun
-
-
a commercial organization that pays all or part of the cost of putting on a concert, sporting event, etc
-
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
-
-
a person or business firm that pays the costs of a radio or television programme in return for advertising time
-
a legislator who presents and supports a bill, motion, etc
-
Also called: godparent.
-
an authorized witness who makes the required promises on behalf of a person to be baptized and thereafter assumes responsibility for his Christian upbringing
-
a person who presents a candidate for confirmation
-
-
a person who undertakes responsibility for the actions, statements, obligations, etc, of another, as during a period of apprenticeship; guarantor
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sponsorsimple
-
sponsorssimple
-
have sponsoredperfect
-
has sponsoredperfect
-
am sponsoringprogressive
-
are sponsoringprogressive
-
is sponsoringprogressive
-
have been sponsoringperfect progressive
-
has been sponsoringperfect progressive
Past
-
sponsoredsimple
-
had sponsoredperfect
-
was sponsoringprogressive
-
were sponsoringprogressive
-
had been sponsoringperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
A sponsor provides support for someone or something, typically by supplying cash. Because your company is a sponsor for a homeless organization, they provide funding for the annual 5K run to raise money for the shelter. The word sponsor stems from the Latin word spondre, meaning "give assurance, promise solemnly." A sponsor might support an important issue such as cancer research or education, or a sponsor might take responsibility for someone. You might be your brother's sponsor so he can join your exclusive chess group. Sponsor has a verb form to describe the action of supporting or leading something. You can sponsor a nonprofit arts organization by donating and participating on the board.
Vocabulary lists containing sponsor
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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!
"My Favorite Chaperone," Vocabulary from the short story
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!
Iroquois Constitution
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.
See Examples For:
They came together after Yamal’s mother, Sheila, won a raffle run by a local newspaper and Barcelona’s shirt sponsor, the children’s charity UNICEF.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Arsenal fans campaigned against the new Premier League champions renewing their deal, with the Gunners for Peace group suggesting Tottenham would be a better sleeve sponsor.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The United States said Wednesday it will delist Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, a decades-old designation that severely impeded investment, in a new vote of confidence in leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
Firms have turned to the secondary market and so-called continuation vehicles, which give fund investors an opportunity to cash out while allowing the sponsor to own and manage the asset.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
And Representative Clark, the sponsor of the texting ban, which he’d gotten on the agenda for a final airing, wasn’t anywhere to be found.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
There are also the legions of sponsors and guests, who follow the race from bleachers at the summit and nibble on petits fours while the competition rages in the background.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
In 2019, Montaño pushed back against sponsors and sports culture that still treated motherhood as a liability rather than a natural part of a woman’s professional journey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
The official sponsors of the World Cup pay eye-watering sums to associate brands with the competition, but no doubt end up benefiting financially, with the likes of Adidas and Coca-Cola plastered everywhere.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Disclosure: Equality Texas and Fox News have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
In his maturity, Handel converted this artistic response into action, becoming one of the founding sponsors, alongside artists Hogarth, Reynolds and Gainsborough, of Thomas Coram’s Foundling Hospital in London.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Because they'd been booked to play Pet-A-Palooza, a dog adoption festival sponsored by the local radio station.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Backed by a coalition of non-college-educated, older, and Black voters, Stevens led a poll sponsored by the Detroit News by 7 points this week.
From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026
Harmont & Blaine sponsored a chalet on the edge of the Olympic slopes in the resort of Cortina and used photos of the nearby Olympic rings to advertise a collection on social media.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Nike sold out of jerseys for at least four of its 16 sponsored federations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
To jump-start the youngest children into a better life, she sponsored a kindergarten.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
America 250, by contrast, is decidedly smaller, sponsoring art exhibits and coordinated "block parties" across the country.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
We were sponsoring him when he was 17 and he signed with us when he was 18 and old enough to turn professional.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
It’s pointed timing, given that Bezos is sponsoring this month’s Met Gala, wrapping the Wintour-chaired event in his brand like a giant cardboard box.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
Bahrain, a close U.S. ally that hosts the Navy’s Fifth Fleet, is sponsoring the U.N. resolution, with a vote expected Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
The Pocahontas Industrial Council for Education was the sponsoring organization, a committee created by the businesses in Welch and some of the larger coal mines.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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.
