# sponsor

/ˈspɑnsɝ/ (US) · /spˈɒnsɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sponsor
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. financial backer

noun · CEFR B2

a person or company that pays for a show, a sports team, or an event, usually to advertise their own name.

For teachers: an entity that provides funds for a project, event, or individual, typically in exchange for commercial advertising rights.

- The local bank is the main sponsor of the town's annual summer festival.
- The corporate sponsor withdrew its funding after the athlete was involved in a public scandal that damaged the brand's reputation.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate the project being funded.

### 2. legal or formal guarantor

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

someone who takes official responsibility for another person, such as a person moving to a new country.

For teachers: a person or organisation that assumes responsibility for another, often in a legal, religious, or immigration context.

- To get a work visa, you often need a company to act as your sponsor.
- The university acted as the official sponsor for the visiting professor, ensuring all visa requirements were met during her residency.

Usage: In immigration contexts, this is a countable noun referring to the person signing the guarantee.

### 3. to provide support

verb · CEFR B2

to pay for or support an event, person, or piece of work.

For teachers: to provide financial or official support for an undertaking. Transitive — always takes a direct object.

- A large technology company decided to sponsor the school's new science lab.
- Several local businesses volunteered to sponsor the charity run, covering the costs of water, t-shirts, and timing equipment.

Usage: Commonly used in the passive voice: 'The event was sponsored by...'

## Examples

- The local bank is the main sponsor for the football team.
- The tech company acted as a lead sponsor for the conference, providing the funding for the venue and catering.
- Securing a corporate sponsor was essential for the gallery's survival, as public funding had been drastically reduced over the previous fiscal year.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.