promoter

American  

[pruh-moh-ter] / prəˈmoʊ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that promotes, furthers, or encourages.

2. a person who initiates or takes part in the organizing of a company, development of a project, etc.

3. a person who organizes and provides financial backing for a sporting event or entertainment.

4. Chemistry. any substance that in small amounts is capable of increasing the activity of a catalyst.

5. Also called collector.  Metallurgy. a water-repellent reagent enhancing the ability of certain ores to float so that they can be extracted by the flotation process.

6. Genetics.

   1. a site on a DNA molecule at which RNA polymerase binds and initiates transcription.

   2. a gene sequence that activates transcription.

7. Obsolete. an informer.

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promoter British  

/ prəˈməʊtə /

noun

1. a person or thing that promotes

2. a person who helps to organize, develop, or finance an undertaking

3. a person who organizes and finances a sporting event, esp a boxing match

4. chem a substance added in small amounts to a catalyst to increase its activity

5. genetics a sequence of nucleotides, associated with a structural gene, that must bind with messenger RNA polymerase before transcription can proceed

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promoter Scientific  

/ prə-mō′tər /

1. The region of an operon that acts as the initial binding site for RNA polymerase.

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Other Word Forms

• self-promoter noun

Etymology

Origin of promoter

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; promote + -er ¹; replacing earlier promotour, from Anglo-French

Explanation

If you’ve been trying to get anyone and everyone to go see your friend’s band perform, then you could call yourself a promoter of that band. A promoter is a supporter, advocate, or booster for a person, group, or event. A promoter is an active supporter of something. A promoter of democracy, for example, is someone who tries to spread democracy throughout the world. Being a promoter is also a profession; one might be hired to make arrangements and generate publicity for some form of public entertainment, like a boxing match or a concert. Perhaps if you tell enough people about your friend's band, the band will hire you as its official promoter.

Example Sentences

The federal government allowed the deal during the Obama administration, prompting worries that the combination of the largest concert promoter and ticketing company would harm consumers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Each artist has roughly a 1 in 5 chance of being selected, said Lehrer, festival promoter, Goldenvoice’s curatorial advisor to the art program and the founder of Public Art Company in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

The event in Dublin would happen with the backing of Saudi Arabia-owned production company Sela and influential promoter Turki Alalshikh, co-founder of Zuffa Boxing.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Benn's fight on Saturday is his first since leaving lifelong promoter Matchroom, having agreed a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing in February.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The Washington visit launched Lawrence into the role of the hydrogen bomb’s most prominent and credible promoter.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• advertiser
• advocate
• backer
• booster
• organizer
• publicist
• sponsor