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 of donor

• 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

Starmer's popularity has also declined amid a persistently high cost of living, sluggish economic growth and criticism over his acceptance of gifts from wealthy donors. —Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2026

The other side has gotten $20 million from Anthropic and millions more from donors whose identities are not public. —Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026

The entry criteria — discussed with and agreed upon in advance by all the candidates, Power said — included collecting more than $10 million, polling at 10% in a legitimate poll, and having more than 10,000 donors — standards only Donalds has been able to achieve. —Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026

Among other things, those nonprofits and shell corporations who do not disclose their donors should be required to do so and ads and campaign literature should be required to disclose the names of the principal donors behind the entities purportedly sponsoring them. —Richard J. Davis, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026

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