sponsor
Americannoun
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sponsors
plural
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a person who vouches or is responsible for a person or thing.
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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
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a person who makes a pledge or promise on behalf of another.
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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)
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sponsors,
present (3rd person singular)
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sponsored,
past participle, past
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sponsoring
present participle
noun
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a commercial organization that pays all or part of the cost of putting on a concert, sporting event, etc
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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
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a person or business firm that pays the costs of a radio or television programme in return for advertising time
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a legislator who presents and supports a bill, motion, etc
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Also called: godparent.
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an authorized witness who makes the required promises on behalf of a person to be baptized and thereafter assumes responsibility for his Christian upbringing
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a person who presents a candidate for confirmation
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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
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sponsorsimple
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sponsorssimple
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have sponsoredperfect
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has sponsoredperfect
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am sponsoringprogressive
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are sponsoringprogressive
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is sponsoringprogressive
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have been sponsoringperfect progressive
-
has been sponsoringperfect progressive
Past
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sponsoredsimple
-
had sponsoredperfect
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was sponsoringprogressive
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were sponsoringprogressive
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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
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"My Favorite Chaperone," Vocabulary from the short story
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Iroquois Constitution
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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:
His visit is a "tremendous symbol," said Tobias Cremer, a European lawmaker from Germany and the main sponsor of a March resolution calling for stronger EU-Canada cooperation.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
State Sen. Carol Alvarado and Rep. Jeff Leach, the bill’s author and House sponsor, said surveillance cameras were never discussed when the bill was considered.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
They include Welsh groups Super Furry Animals and Panic Shack, as well as Loose Articles and Mogwai, with the latter appearing as a sponsor on the shirt worn by Chatten at Reading.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
You should question which sponsor wants to commit serious dollars to an athletic department that doesn’t fully commit to pursuing excellence in the most important endeavor of football.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the performance of your agreement with a corporate sponsor in Yugoslavia to play chess is deemed to be in support of that sponsor's commercial activity.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
The bill’s Republican sponsors said once a mug shot spreads online, it creates a cloud of guilt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Some receive direct U.S. funding, while others are funded by corporate sponsors and foundations.
From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026
After pulling out as sponsors of the PGA Tour tournament, Good Good chief executive officer Matt Kendrick said they "remain committed to earning back" the tour's trust.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
The Golf Channel postponed its scheduled Aug. 25 premiere date of the reality show “Big Break x Good Good” after one of its sponsors asked for its branding to be removed from the show.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
I knew Sam’s was one of the main sponsors, because Stan and I had sold shirts for Hank there last year, and Sam’s logo had been plastered everywhere.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
In social-media posts sponsored by Dove, people are layering its fragrant body washes, bar soaps and scrubs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
So far this decade, Walmart has built up its so-called retail media network, which charges brands for advertisements and sponsored searches on the retailer’s websites and apps.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Foreign Minister Robert Dussey of Togo, which sponsored the resolution, said maps "guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions."
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
Both bills were sponsored by the Consumer Attorneys of California, a powerful trial lawyer trade group that says it wants to beef up punishment for misconduct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Monday, the student council sponsored a Heritage Sit-in.
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A two-time Oscar-winning supervising sound editor, Baker Landers is vice president of California Post Alliance, the group sponsoring the bill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
Lastly, the law allows plans to include language permitting workers old enough to be subject to RMDs to skip them while working for the company sponsoring the plan.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
The WHO is also sponsoring a separate clinical trial in DR Congo to see whether two existing antiviral therapies can improve survival rates.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
But that changed late Tuesday, when Beutner sent a letter to state Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, a South Bay Democrat who is sponsoring the legislation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“Which companies are sponsoring the Paris summit?” asked Brooklyn.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
