# supporter

/səˈpɔɹtɝ/ (US) · /səpˈɔːtɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. sports fan

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

someone who follows and cheers for a particular sports team.

For teachers: a person who follows a specific sports team or athlete, often attending matches and showing public loyalty.

- Thousands of football supporters gathered outside the stadium to celebrate the win.
- The club's loyal supporters remained in the stands long after the final whistle, singing anthems to show their appreciation for the team's effort.

Usage: Commonly used in British English where American English would prefer 'fan'.

### 2. political or social helper

noun · CEFR B2

someone who agrees with and helps a political leader, a law, or an idea.

For teachers: an individual who provides active backing or advocacy for a political party, candidate, or social cause.

- The candidate thanked her supporters for their hard work during the election.
- Supporters of the new environmental policy argue that the long-term ecological benefits far outweigh the initial implementation costs.

Teaching tip: In a political context, 'supporter' is more neutral than 'activist' or 'partisan'.

### 3. physical object

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a thing that holds something else up or keeps it in place.

For teachers: a structural or functional object designed to bear weight or maintain the position of another part.

- The shelf needs an extra supporter in the middle so it doesn't bend.
- Engineers identified a hairline fracture in the primary steel supporter, necessitating an immediate suspension of the construction project.

## Examples

- The team's supporters cheered loudly when they scored a goal.
- Thousands of loyal supporters gathered in the city square to celebrate the local team's championship victory.
- While the candidate's core supporters remained steadfast, the recent policy shift alienated those on the periphery of the movement who valued fiscal conservatism over social reform.

---

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.