donor

American  

[doh-ner] / ˈdoʊ nər /

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.

3. Law. a person who gives property by gift, legacy, or devise, or who confers a power of appointment.

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adjective

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

   donor organ.

donor British  

/ 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

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donor Scientific  

/ 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 acceptor See also electron carrier

3. An individual from whom blood, tissue, or an organ is taken for transfusion, implantation, or transplant.

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Other Word Forms

• donorship noun
• predonor noun

Etymology

Origin of donor

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

Example Sentences

Beth and Laura say, from an early age, they were open with their children about the man they thought had been the donor.

From BBC

A co-worker of his wife had launched a GoFundMe in February 2025, with donors including businessman, producer and comic Byron Allen.

From Los Angeles Times

He has since leaned on donors to address homelessness and economic development.

From The Wall Street Journal

Caers founded the Stanford Mineral-X Initiative, a collection of professors and students who use AI to help mining companies improve drilling outcomes, to which KoBold is a minor donor.

From The Wall Street Journal

A donor walked into a Chabad in Florida and handed the rabbi a check for $18,000, saying, “This is for Tucker.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• backer
• benefactor
• contributor
• patron