donor

noun

do·​nor ˈdō-nər 

-ˌnȯr

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

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

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

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

Phrases Containing donor

• donor card
• sperm donor
• universal donor

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

donor

noun

do·​nor ˈdō-nər  -ˌnȯ(ə)r 

1

: one used as a source of biological material (as blood or an organ)

2

: a compound capable of giving up a part (as an atom, chemical group, or elementary particle) for combination with an acceptor

Legal Definition

donor

noun

do·​nor ˈdō-nər, -ˌnȯr 

: one that gives, donates, grants, or confers something

specifically : settlor