contributor

noun

con·​trib·​u·​tor kən-ˈtri-byə-tər 

-bə-,

-ˌbyü-

: someone or something that contributes something or that contributes to something

charitable contributors

… have suggested that the fee would hurt the agriculture industry, a sector they claim is the largest contributor to the state economy.

—Wenonah Hauter

… was illustrated by Oliver Munday, a frequent contributor to the Book Review …

—John Williams

These particles, which are known as black carbon and are the major component of soot, are the second most important contributor to global warming, behind only carbon dioxide, wrote the 31 authors of the study …

—Elisabeth Rosenthal

Examples of contributor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond cognitive benefits, lion’s mane also appears to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may help reduce oxidative stress – an underlying contributor to many chronic diseases. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Other staffers departing include Nikki Battiste, Nancy Chen, Janet Shamilan, Alturo Rhymes, Adam Yamaguchi, Elise Preston and Lisa Ling, who was hired as a contributor in 2023 to deliver enterprise reporting to various CBS News programs. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025

Louis Murray is a frequent contributor to the Boston Herald. —Lou Murray, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025

After testing nearly two dozen travel coffee tumblers, contributor Adam Campbell-Schmitt continues to opt for the SmoothSip as his everyday mug. —Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contributour "person who pays a tax or assessment," borrowed from Anglo-French, "one who pays a share of a tax or fine," from Latin contribūt-, past participle stem of Latin contribuere "to give as a portion or share" + -our -or entry 1 — more at contribute

First Known Use

circa 1531, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contributor

• distributor