benefactor

noun

ben·​e·​fac·​tor ˈbe-nə-ˌfak-tər How to pronounce benefactor (audio)
: someone or something that provides help or an advantage : one that confers a benefit
a benefactor of humankind
especially : a person who makes a gift or bequest
His endowments … placed him high among the benefactors of the convent. Jane Austen
a wealthy benefactor

Did you know?

A benefactor may be involved in almost any field. One may endow a scholarship fund; another may give money to expand a library; still another may leave a generous sum to a hospital in her will. The famous benefactions of John D. Rockefeller included the gifts that established the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Rockefeller University. Many benefactors have reported that giving away their money turned out to be the most rewarding thing they ever did.

Examples of benefactor in a Sentence

With the help of a rich benefactor he set up a charity. an anonymous benefactor gave the school a dozen new computers
Recent Examples on the Web The resources and relationships of FII’s main benefactor are enough to create a powerful lineup of leaders in Miami. Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024 In 2017, Charles McGonigal flew to Albania with his benefactor and met with a former Albanian energy minister and the country's prime minister. Michael Kunzelman The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 17 Feb. 2024 Many plot points—Dale’s hospitalization, his interactions with his benefactor’s family, his brief reunion with a singer who’s an old flame—are dramatically banal. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 Beloved outdoor brand Field & Stream has two new big-name benefactors: country music stars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen. USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 Investors have piled their money into the most obvious benefactors of demand for AI, like tech companies and chip producers. Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 21 Feb. 2024 The company, which is a year old and was founded by people who previously worked in AI research at OpenAI and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been the benefactor of a boom of investments in recent months. Michael Lee, Fox News, 9 Feb. 2024 Bronwyn Stanford, ousted from her county job last year by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, has settled a slander suit filed by Yolanda Berkowitz, a benefactor of the county’s pet shelter and sterilization efforts. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024 Like that movie, Ripley follows the conman after he is hired by a wealthy benefactor to convince his vagabond son Dickie Greenleaf to return home from Italy. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 22 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benefactor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of benefactor was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near benefactor

Cite this Entry

“Benefactor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefactor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

benefactor

noun
bene·​fac·​tor
ˈben-ə-ˌfak-tər
: one who helps another especially by giving money

More from Merriam-Webster on benefactor

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