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

Burch even co-founded the Catholics for Trump coalition with prominent politicians, benefactors, and media influencers. —Liam Adams, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

Edward Burke has become the latest Chicago Democrat to seek clemency from someone who, at first blush, would seem like an unlikely benefactor: Republican President Donald Trump. —Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025

But given that Musk seems disinclined to do so thus far, the first high-profile case of the SEC under a second Trump term may well turn out to be against his most important benefactor. —Brian Barrett, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025

The building was once the home of Prospero Moisè Loria, a businessman, philanthropist and benefactor. —Sofia Celeste, WWD, 9 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