1
: one that gives, donates, or presents something
2
: one used as a source of biological material (such as blood or an organ)
3
a
: a compound capable of giving up a part (such as an atom, chemical group, or subatomic particle) for combination with an acceptor
b
: an impurity added to a semiconductor to increase the number of mobile electrons
Synonyms
Examples of donor in a Sentence
The money was raised from individual donors.
She is one of the charity's major donors.
Recent Examples on the Web
The scholarships are funded through grants from individuals or donors from foundations.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Jan. 2025
Advances in understanding the body’s immune system and in the use of immunosuppressant medicines have boosted the success rate to 95 percent for kidney transplants from deceased donors and more than 98 percent for kidney transplants from living donors.
—Allan Chernoff, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2025
Before becoming a Trump donor and adviser, Bessent supported several Democratic causes, including Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Many collectives are nonprofits or structured like other groups that do not have to disclose individual donors, similar to how billions of dollars of political donations flow through nonprofits that don’t have to disclose their donors compared to groups that do.
—Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for donor
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English donoure, from Anglo-French doneur, from Latin donator, from donare
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of donor was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing donor
Dictionary Entries Near donor
Cite this Entry
“Donor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/donor. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
donor
noun
do·nor
ˈdō-nər
-ˌnȯr
1
: one that donates
2
: one used as a source of bodily material or parts
a blood donor
a kidney donor
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
donor
noun
do·nor
ˈdō-nər, -ˌnȯr
: one that gives, donates, grants, or confers something
specifically
: settlor
More from Merriam-Webster on donor
Nglish: Translation of donor for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of donor for Arabic Speakers
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