donor

noun

do·​nor ˈdō-nər 

-ˌnȯr

1

: one that gives, donates, or presents something

2

: one used as a source of biological material (such as blood or an organ)

3

a

: a compound capable of giving up a part (such as an atom, chemical group, or subatomic particle) for combination with an acceptor

b

: an impurity added to a semiconductor to increase the number of mobile electrons

Synonyms

• donator
• benefactor
• contributor
• patron

Examples of donor in a Sentence

The money was raised from individual donors.

She is one of the charity's major donors.

Recent Examples on the Web

An anonymous blog suggested Borowsky was trying to benefit her friend and campaign donor, David Hovey Jr., who is chief operating officer at Optima Inc., the firm behind the luxury Optima apartments near Scottsdale Fashion Square. —Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Judy Orr, the executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville, in an email sent out last week appealed to donors and volunteers for help. —Kelly Puente, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Museum leaders are also privately expressing concerns that major donors — whether corporate sponsors or individual philanthropists — may press museum executives and curators to reframe their exhibitions to fit political narratives that comply with those coming from the White House. —Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 20 Aug. 2025

However, what is less discussed is how different these younger donors are in their expectations. —Tal Frankfurt, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English donoure, from Anglo-French doneur, from Latin donator, from donare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing donor

• donor card
• sperm donor
• universal donor

Rhymes for donor

• kroner
• kronor
• loner
• owner
• stoner
• toner
• homeowner
• landowner
• shipowner

Kids Definition

donor

noun

do·​nor ˈdō-nər 

-ˌnȯr

1

: one that donates

2

: one used as a source of bodily material or parts

a blood donor

a kidney donor

Medical Definition

donor

noun

do·​nor ˈdō-nər  -ˌnȯ(ə)r 

1

: one used as a source of biological material (as blood or an organ)

2

: a compound capable of giving up a part (as an atom, chemical group, or elementary particle) for combination with an acceptor

Legal Definition

donor

noun

do·​nor ˈdō-nər, -ˌnȯr 

: one that gives, donates, grants, or confers something

specifically : settlor