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

Service organizations have long had to rely on funding from a range of sources, from federal grants to one-off donations, making their work dependent on a patchwork of benefactors with differing rules and deadlines. —Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025

The decision sparked concern among watchdog groups and legal experts who noted Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have been scrutinized for accepting lavish gifts and hospitality from wealthy benefactors. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025

Softbank sold the stake in 2023 for about $3 billion to Mubadala Investment, the $300 billion sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates — making this oil rich Islamic monarchy one of Senator Justice’s most important benefactors. —Christopher Helman, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Other major benefactors included Tim Gill, a software entrepreneur, who has been among the most important donors in the gay community, working to push L.G.B.T.Q. rights first in his home state of Colorado and then nationally. —Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025

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