donor

[ doh-ner ]

noun

1. a person who gives or donates.

   Synonyms: patron, sponsor, contributor, supporter

2. Medicine/Medical. a person or animal providing blood, an organ, bone marrow cells, or other biological tissue for transfusion or transplantation: sperm donor organ donor
3. Law. a person who gives property by gift, legacy, or devise, or who confers a power of appointment.

adjective

1. of or relating to the biological tissue of a donor:

   donor organ.

donor

/ ˈdəʊnə /

noun

1. a person who makes a donation
2. med any person who voluntarily gives blood, skin, a kidney etc, for use in the treatment of another person
3. law
   1. a person who makes a gift of property
   2. a person who bestows upon another a power of appointment over property
4. the atom supplying both electrons in a coordinate bond
5. an impurity, such as antimony or arsenic, that is added to a semiconductor material in order to increase its n-type conductivity by contributing free electrons Compare acceptor

donor

/ dō′nər /

1. An atom or molecule that releases one or more electrons to another atom or molecule, resulting in a chemical bond or flow of electric current.
2. Compare acceptorSee also electron carrier
3. An individual from whom blood, tissue, or an organ is taken for transfusion, implantation, or transplant.

Derived Forms

• ˈdonorˌship, noun

Other Words From

• donor·ship noun
• pre·donor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of donor¹

1400–50; late Middle English donour < Anglo-French ( Old French doneur ) < Latin dōnātor, equivalent to dōnā ( re ) ( donation ) + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of donor¹

C15: from Old French doneur, from Latin dōnātor, from dōnāre to give

Example Sentences

Gaetz is married to Ginger Luckey Gaetz, the sister of major Trump donor Palmer Luckey of Newport Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

Brown’s decision to contact authorities, and to ultimately testify at Buck’s trial, was a pivotal moment that helped lead to the Democratic donor’s conviction, and for other victims to come forward, said one of his attorneys, Nana Gyamfi.

From Los Angeles Times

Dane Brown, who survived a 2019 drug overdose and prompted an investigation against Democratic donor and activist Ed Buck, was found dead on a South Los Angeles sidewalk last week.

From Los Angeles Times

“When we walk into 2026, it’d be much easier to defend these seats versus having to flip them. And that’ll give Democrats nationally just a little bit of an extra advantage from a starting point,” said Gomez Daly, a senior political strategist with California Donor Table and chair of Battleground California.

From Los Angeles Times

And with the election of Donald Trump for a second term as US president, Ukraine’s depleted and war-weary forces are facing uncertain support from their biggest military donor.

From BBC

Related Words

• backer
• benefactor
• contributor
• patron