sponsor

noun

spon·sor | \ ˈspän(t)-sər

Definition of sponsor

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : one who presents a candidate for baptism or confirmation and undertakes responsibility for the person's religious education or spiritual welfare

2 : one who assumes responsibility for some other person or thing

3 : a person or an organization that pays for or plans and carries out a project or activity especially : one that pays the cost of a radio or television program usually in return for advertising time during its course

sponsor

verb

sponsored; sponsoring\ ˈspän(t)s-(ə-)riŋ

Definition of sponsor (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to be or stand sponsor for

Other Words from sponsor Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about sponsor

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Other Words from sponsor

Noun

sponsorial \ spän-ˈsȯr-ē-əl

\ adjective

sponsorship \ ˈspän(t)-sər-ˌship

\ noun

Synonyms for sponsor

Synonyms: Noun

backer, guarantor, patron, surety

Examples of sponsor in a Sentence

Noun

Our company is a sponsor of the race. I have over 50 sponsors for next week's race. Her sponsors include a major sneaker company. He agreed to be my sponsor so that I could join the club. The senator is a sponsor of the proposed bill.

Verb

The radio station sponsored the concert. The tournament is sponsored by local businesses. Will you sponsor me for the charity race? He sponsored me at my confirmation. She sponsored the new tax bill.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Celebrity sponsors including Jimmy Kimmel and Laura Dern will be in attendance. — Hadley Tomicki, Los Angeles Times, "Where’s the beef? It’s at American Beauty in Venice," 10 Sep. 2019 The sponsors of the other bills are: Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids; Rep. Eric Leutheuser, R-Hillsdale; Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville; Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor; and Rep. Pauline Wendzel, R-Bainbridge Township. — Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan bills would make more ex-offenders eligible to have criminal records expunged," 9 Sep. 2019 Other sponsors were BFGoodrich Discount Tire, Holiday Stationstores and Cub Foods. — Deanna Weniger, Twin Cities, "Minneapolis’ ‘Spooner’s Revenge’ wins Red Bull Flugtag event after placing second in 2010," 7 Sep. 2019 The amendment’s lead sponsor was council member Derrick Leon Davis (D-District 6), whose district includes Westphalia. — Rachel Chason, Washington Post, "An Amazon warehouse instead of offices. Townhouses in place of an airport. Zoning ‘tool’ allows changes with little scrutiny.," 5 Sep. 2019 Other sponsors of her trip were Think Dignity, Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance and San Diego Housing and Emergency Alliance. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "‘It’s as bad, if not worse, than I anticipated’ — UN appointee gets a look at San Diego homelessness," 15 Aug. 2019 The school's sponsor, an order of priests known as the Midwest Jesuits, is appealing the archbishop's decree revoking their Catholic status. — Arika Herron, Indianapolis Star, "Catholic school controversy: Rainbow streamers welcome back Cathedral students," 8 Aug. 2019 Viking was a sponsor of Masterpiece, when Downton Abbey was on the air, and now, Viking has taken that partnership one step further, offering offers trips to Highclere Castle as an add-on to a number of their existing itineraries. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "How to Visit Highclere Castle, the Real-Life Downton Abbey," 8 Aug. 2019 Off-duty nurses and doctors from the local St. Louise Regional Hospital, a sponsor of the event, were on their knees applying tourniquets and pressing bandages into wounds. — Erin Allday, SFChronicle.com, "Gilroy shooting: Training, quick medical response ‘made big difference’," 6 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

All three Chula Vista residents are struggling with cancer and their hard luck story captured the attention of Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas, who sponsored a fundraiser to help them. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas stages a fundraiser — but not for politics," 4 Sep. 2019 Soon, the family will file a green card application for Galindo, since one of Vargas' brothers is a U.S. citizen who can sponsor her. — Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, "Soldier's immigrant mother could be among the last to benefit from program," 22 Aug. 2019 ProPublica interviewed several current and former lawmakers who sponsored the legislation. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, "After Failing Mentally Ill New Yorkers, Adult Homes Get Second Chance," 30 July 2019 Roach attributed some of the hiring success to salary increases, as well as a program that provides $250 bonuses to officers who sponsor recruits. — Ryan Martin, Indianapolis Star, "As Mayor Joe Hogsett seeks re-election, IMPD is finally growing," 30 July 2019 Clothing companies PrettyLittleThing and Quay Australia sponsored the fete, which took place at Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s private home on Star Island in Miami. — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, "J.Lo’s 50th Birthday Party Is the Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of," 25 July 2019 In supporting the bill, Herrera Beutler — who gave birth to her third child on May 21 — continues a streak of co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation focused on maternity and child health care. — Calley Hair, The Seattle Times, "Herrera Beutler bill calls for $35 million for midwife education," 23 July 2019 Meanwhile, the New York lawmakers who sponsored the legislation remain hopeful that Neal will take advantage of the new law. — Allan Smith, NBC News, "The one Democrat who can get Trump's state taxes doesn't want to. That's infuriated the left.," 22 July 2019 But some of Sanders’s fellow presidential candidates who sponsored that proposal, like Harris and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NY), are less steadfast about the idea. — Tara Golshan, Vox, "Bernie Sanders made Medicare-for-all mainstream. Now he’s trying to reclaim it.," 17 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sponsor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near sponsor

spontaneous amputation

Statistics for sponsor

Last Updated

13 Sep 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for sponsor

The first known use of sponsor was in 1651

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More Definitions for sponsor

sponsor

noun

English Language Learners Definition of sponsor

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a person or organization that pays the cost of an activity or event (such as a radio or television program, sports event, concert, etc.) in return for the right to advertise during the activity or event

: a person or organization that gives someone money for participating in a charity event (such as a walk or race)

: an organization that gives money to an athlete for training, clothes, equipment, etc., in return for the right to use the athlete for advertising

sponsor

verb

English Language Learners Definition of sponsor (Entry 2 of 2)

: to be a sponsor for (something or someone)

See the full definition for sponsor in the English Language Learners Dictionary

sponsor

noun

spon·sor | \ ˈspän-sər