I. ˈspän(t)-sər noun
Etymology: Late Latin, from Latin, guarantor, surety, from spondēre 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-ˈsȯr-ē-əl adjective
• spon·sor·ship ˈspän(t)-sər-ˌship noun
II. transitive verb
( spon·sored ; spon·sor·ing ˈspän(t)s-(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 1869
: to be or stand sponsor for