sponsor

sponsor [spän′sər]

n.

[L, surety < spondere, to promise solemnly < IE base * spend-, to bring a libation, vow > Gr spendein, to promise, spondē, libation]

1. a person or agency that undertakes certain responsibilities in connection with some other person or some group or activity, as in being a proponent, endorser, advisor, underwriter, surety, etc.

2.

a) a godfather or godmother; person who answers for a child, as at baptism, making the profession of faith and the promises prescribed

b) in some Christian denominations, a person who acts as patron for someone being confirmed

☆ 3. a business firm or other agency that alone or with others pays the costs of a radio or television program on which it advertises or promotes something

vt.

to act as sponsor for

sponsorial [spän′sôr′ē əl]

adj.

sponsorship

n.

SYN.- a SPONSOR is one who assumes a certain degree of responsibility for another in any of various ways [the sponsors of a television program assume the costs of production ]; a PATRON is one who assumes the role of protector or benefactor, now usually in a financial capacity as of an artist, an institution, etc.; a BACKER is one who lends support, esp. financial support, to someone or something but does not necessarily assume any responsibilities [the magazine failed when it lost its backers]; ANGEL is a colloquial term for the backer of a theatrical enterprise