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

However, this new fee is a blow to certain industries that now will face much higher costs to sponsor prospective hires, and it might deter overseas talent from coming to the U.S.

Read more on MarketWatch

In the interim, Habitat agreed to be the network’s fiscal sponsor so they could start accepting donations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Probiotics maker Pendulum Therapeutics paid her $27,000 to sponsor her newsletter, and supplement company Momentous paid her nearly $40,000.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Insurance companies fix potholes and sponsor fire brigades to reduce claims.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Students attend on scholarships financed through family foundations, corporate sponsors, individual donors and a small endowment that covers about 10% of the school’s operating budget.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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