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. a person or group that provides funds for an activity, esp
   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 calledgodparent
   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

Derived Forms

• ˈsponsorˌship, noun
• sponsorial, adjective

Other Words From

• spon·so·ri·al [spon-, sawr, -ee-, uh, l], adjective
• spon·sor·ship noun
• un·spon·sored 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

In a town hall last year sponsored by News Nation, Kennedy complained that “experts” often end up on opposite sides of a debate, which he took as an indication that they shouldn’t be believed.

From Los Angeles Times

The study, sponsored by BridgeBio Pharma Inc, involved 72 children with achondroplasia from Australia, the UK, the US, Spain, France and Canada.

From Science Daily

These efforts are coming forward at the Tuesday meeting of the Board of Education in four emergency resolutions sponsored by board President Jackie Goldberg in her last regular public board meeting before her retirement.

From Los Angeles Times

But sponsors stretched the English language when they pitched it as ending the last vestiges of “slavery.”

From Los Angeles Times

It was a first on two counts - the "lady sponsor" the Duchess of Kent was the first member of the Royal Family to name a CalMac vessel.

From BBC

Related Words

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