I. spon ‧ sor 1 /ˈspɒnsə $ ˈspɑːnsər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: spondere 'to promise' ]
1 .
a) a person or company that pays for a show, broadcast, sports event etc, especially in exchange for the right to advertise at that event
sponsor of
Eastman Kodak is a major sponsor of the Olympics.
corporate sponsors
b) a person or company that supports someone by paying for their training, education, living costs etc
2 . someone who agrees to give someone else money for a ↑ charity if they walk, run etc a particular distance
3 . someone who officially introduces or supports a proposal for a new law
4 . someone who officially agrees to help someone else, or to be responsible for what they do:
You cannot get a work visa without an American sponsor.
5 . a ↑ godparent
II. sponsor 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 .
a) to give money to a sports event, theatre, institution etc, especially in exchange for the right to advertise:
The competition was sponsored by British Airways.
government-sponsored projects
b) to support someone by paying for their training, education, living costs etc:
The bank had offered to sponsor him at university.
2 . to officially support a proposal for a new law
3 . to agree to help someone or be responsible for what they do
4 . to agree to give someone money for ↑ charity if they walk, run etc a particular distance
5 . sponsored walk/swim etc British English an event in which many people walk, swim etc a particular distance so that people will give them money for a ↑ charity
6 . UN-sponsored/US-sponsored/government-sponsored etc supported and encouraged by the UN, the US etc:
US-sponsored peace talks