n.
Pronunciation: ' spän(t)-s ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin, from Latin, guarantor, surety, from spond ē re to promise ― more at SPOUSE
Date: 1651
1 : one who presents a candidate for baptism or confirmation and undertakes responsibility for the person's religious education or spiritual welfare
2 : one who assumes responsibility for some other person or thing
3 : a person or an organization that pays for or plans and carries out a project or activity especially : one that pays the cost of a radio or television program usually in return for advertising time during its course
– spon · so · ri · al \ spän- ' so ̇ r- ē - ə l \ adjective
– spon · sor · ship \ ' spän(t)-s ə r- ˌ ship \ noun