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

Read the full Pisces Daily Horoscope Aries (March 21 - April 19) Unusual benefactors? —USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024

Though benefactor scandals were not unheard of, there’d never been a reckoning quite like this one. —Mary Holland, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024

Though Drake may have been the biggest benefactor in this all, with his endless wins on the board, his decision to set his sights on UMG’s practices may reinforce the need to monitor streams even more closely. —Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 27 Nov. 2024

The donation from repeat benefactor John Monahan of Palm Springs, Calif. will support arts programming and visual exhibits, faculty, scholarships and general education, largely through the College of Arts and Sciences. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 14 Nov. 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