Meaning & use
benefactor
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
Someone who gives money or other support to a person, charity or institution.
Grammar: A countable noun, often followed by of or to: a benefactor of the museum.
Patterns
- a benefactor of something
- a benefactor to someone
An anonymous benefactor paid for the new library wing.
The orphanage thanked its generous benefactor.
She became a benefactor of the local theater.
nouncountableformal
A person who helps someone personally through a time of need, such as with education or housing.
Grammar: Often used in biographies and stories about patrons.
The young painter's benefactor gave him a studio.
Her benefactor sent her to university when her family could not.
Word forms
| plural | benefactors |
|---|
Common combinations
- anonymous benefactor
- An anonymous benefactor covered the hospital bills.
- wealthy benefactor
- A wealthy benefactor funded the scholarship.
- generous benefactor
- The school honored its most generous benefactor.
- mysterious benefactor
- A mysterious benefactor mailed the family a check.
Synonyms and how they differ
- patron
- A patron supports an artist, cause or business, often over time, while a benefactor may give once.
- donor
- A donor gives money or goods, even in small amounts, while a benefactor suggests a larger, more personal act of kindness.
- sponsor
- A sponsor often expects publicity in return, which is not usually true of a benefactor.
- philanthropist
- A philanthropist gives widely to good causes, whereas a benefactor is described in relation to one recipient.
Opposites
Word family
- benefaction noun
- a gift or good deed
- benefactress noun
- an old-fashioned word for a female benefactor
- benefit noun
- an advantage or good result
- beneficial adjective
- helpful or good for someone
Commonly confused: benefactor or beneficiary?
benefactor vs beneficiary
A beneficiary receives help or money, for example from a will. A benefactor is the one who gives.
Practice
The scholarship exists thanks to a wealthy ___ who gave millions to the college.
Choose one answer.
The benefactor is the person who gives. A beneficiary is the one who receives, so it is the wrong direction, and the other options do not name a giver.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “benefactor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.