A Sponsor Was Originally a Godparent
A sponsor supports an event or a person. The Latin means one who pledges, and the earliest English sponsors stood at baptisms.
A sponsor provides support, usually money, in return for publicity or on someone's behalf. The oldest English sense is religious: a sponsor was a godparent, pledging on a child's behalf at baptism. From *spondere*, to pledge — the same verb behind *respond* and *spouse*.
- A backer of an event or team. *The tournament sponsor.*
- Someone who supports a person. *My sponsor at the meeting.*
- A godparent (historical). *Sponsors at the font.*
- To provide support. *The bank sponsors the prize.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | sponsor | A main sponsor. |
| Plural | sponsors | Corporate sponsors. |
| Verb | sponsor | Sponsor a runner. |
| Noun | sponsorship | Sponsorship revenue. |
| Adjective | sponsored | A sponsored walk. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The event has three sponsors.Commercial backing.
- Will you sponsor me for the marathon?Charity fundraising.
- Sponsorship deals fund most of the sport.Economics of sport.
Kinds of sponsorship
- Title sponsorship — the sponsor's name in the event name
- Shirt sponsorship — branding on team kit
- Charity sponsorship — pledges per mile or per event
- Visa sponsorship — an employer supporting an immigration application
- Legislative sponsor — the member who introduces a bill
From Latin *sponsor*, a surety, from *spondere*, to pledge. The commercial sense is a twentieth-century development, spreading with broadcasting.
Are sponsor and spouse related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *spondere*, to pledge. A spouse is pledged in marriage; a sponsor pledges on someone's behalf.
What is a bill sponsor?
The legislator who formally introduces a bill and leads it through the chamber. Co-sponsors add their names in support.