English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Common

donor

DOH-nuh

Donor (noun) means a person or organization that gives something, especially money, blood, or an organ. Example: “The hospital is always looking for blood donors.”

noun
1
A person or organization that gives something, especially money, blood, or an organ.
"The hospital is always looking for blood donors."
"A wealthy donor funded the new library wing."

How to use donor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who gives — often money to a charity or cause, or blood/organs for medical use.

Common pairings
blood donor organ donor generous donor

Word forms

donors plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “donor” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The hospital is always looking for blood _____.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman donour, from Old French doneur, ultimately from Latin donare, "to give."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for donor

See all rhymes for donor →

Frequently asked questions

What does “donor” mean?

The word “donor” means a person or organization that gives something, especially money, blood, or an organ. In plain terms, someone who gives — often money to a charity or cause, or blood/organs for medical use.

How do you pronounce “donor”?

“Donor” is pronounced DOH-nuh (/ˈdoʊnɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “donor” in a sentence?

Here is “donor” used in a sentence: “The hospital is always looking for blood donors.”

What is another word for “donor”?

Words with a similar meaning to “donor” include donater and donator.

What part of speech is “donor”?

“Donor” is a noun.

Where does the word “donor” come from?

The word “donor” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman donour, from Old French doneur, ultimately from Latin donare, "to give.".

Is “donor” a common word?

“Donor” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between 'donor' and 'donator'?

Donor is the standard, widely accepted word for someone who gives something. Donator means the same thing but is nonstandard and rarely used, so donor is almost always the better choice.

What is the difference between a 'donor' and a 'recipient'?

A donor is the person or organization that gives something, such as money, blood, or an organ. A recipient is the one who receives it, so the two are opposite roles in the same exchange.

What is the difference between a 'donor' and a 'benefactor'?

A benefactor is someone who gives generous financial help, often to a person or institution. Donor is a broader term that also covers giving blood, organs, or one-off contributions, not just money.

What are common types of donor?

The word appears in phrases such as 'blood donor,' 'organ donor,' and a 'donor' to a charity or campaign. In each case the donor is the giver of money, blood, or an organ.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial