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

After considering hundreds of nominations from our readers and contributors, our editors whittled those down to this year’s magic 10. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 28 June 2025

The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025

In the 1970s and ’80s, Johnson was a contributor to the Chicago Reader, writing about sometimes-controversial topics, including how public schools treat students of different races, medical ethics and the chemistry of the brain. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025

Or take a road trip for some of America’s best lagers — our contributor Hudson Lindenberger has the ideal route. —Sarah Perez, Forbes.com, 27 June 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