benefactor

noun

ben·​e·​fac·​tor ˈbe-nə-ˌfak-tər 

: 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.

Synonyms

• angel
• donator
• donor
• fairy godmother
• Maecenas
• patron
• sugar daddy

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

For years now, Tottenham have sustainably run themselves rather than relying on benefactor injections. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024

Yet, despite this populist rhetoric, Wallace's real concern in terms of pushing low property taxes was helping his corporate benefactors. —Brucie Porter / Made By History, TIME, 5 Dec. 2024

Her highest-paying benefactor is a man named Charles, the influencer tells PEOPLE. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024

For Tóth, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who was well known for his work prior to the war, his madness is the construction of a community center to be named in honor of his benefactor’s late mother. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

benefactor

noun

bene·​fac·​tor

ˈben-ə-ˌfak-tər

: one who helps another especially by giving money