sponsor
SPON-suh
Sponsor (noun) means a person or organization that provides money to support an event, program, or activity, usually in return for publicity. Example: “A local bakery became the proud sponsor of the village fireworks display.”
noun
1
A person or organization that provides money to support an event, program, or activity, usually in return for publicity.
"A local bakery became the proud sponsor of the village fireworks display."
"The marathon's main sponsor put its logo on every runner's bib."
"The team found a new sponsor after losing their old one."
2
A person who takes formal responsibility for guiding or vouching for another, such as in a recovery program or an immigration application.
"She needed a sponsor in her new country before her visa could be approved."
"Having a sponsor to call when things get hard helped him stay on track."
"His sponsor calls him every morning to check how he's doing."
verb
1
To fund or formally support someone or something.
"A charity agreed to sponsor her studies for the whole year."
"Several companies will sponsor the school's summer music festival."
"A local business agreed to sponsor the youth football team."
How to use sponsor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or some company) that backs an event, person, or cause, often financially.
Common pairings
corporate sponsor
sponsor an event
find a sponsor
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Word forms
- Plural
- sponsors
- Third person singular
- sponsors
- Past tense
- sponsored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A local bakery became the proud _____ of the village fireworks display.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin sponsor, meaning "a guarantor" — someone who stands surety for another.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sponsor” mean?
The word “sponsor” means a person or organization that provides money to support an event, program, or activity, usually in return for publicity. In plain terms, someone (or some company) that backs an event, person, or cause, often financially.
How do you pronounce “sponsor”?
“Sponsor” is pronounced SPON-suh (/ˈspɑn.sɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sponsor” in a sentence?
Here is “sponsor” used in a sentence: “The marathon's main sponsor put its logo on every runner's bib.”
What part of speech is “sponsor”?
Depending on how it is used, “sponsor” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sponsor” come from?
The word “sponsor” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin sponsor, meaning "a guarantor" — someone who stands surety for another.
Is “sponsor” a common word?
“Sponsor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “sponsor” have?
“Sponsor” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or organization that provides money to support an event, program, or activity, usually in return for publicity.
What is the difference between a sponsor and a donor?
A donor gives money or goods without expecting anything in return. A sponsor provides money to support an event, programme, or activity usually in exchange for something — most often publicity, such as a logo on team shirts or a name on a venue.
What is a sponsor in a recovery programme?
In recovery programmes, a sponsor is an experienced member who takes formal responsibility for guiding and supporting a newer member. This reflects the personal sense of sponsor: someone who vouches for and mentors another person.
What is the difference between sponsorship and advertising?
Advertising buys direct promotional space or airtime for a message the advertiser controls. Sponsorship funds an event, team, or programme in return for public association with it — the sponsor's name appears, but the sponsored activity remains the focus.
