a person who makes a bequest or endowment, as to an institution.
Origin
1425-75;late Middle Englishbenefactour < Late Latin; see bene-, factor
Synonyms
2. patron, supporter, sponsor, backer, protector.
Examples from the web for benefactor
Moore is the university's largest benefactor, and its business school is named for her.
The institution had no expectation of my potential as a benefactor so I had to earn my doctorate through hard work.
She was a generous but quiet benefactor to many charities, .
Michael was such a gracious and caring benefactor.
Wright is a longtime benefactor of the arts in Seattle.
He was a true benefactor and supporter of our children and their families.
He who gives mankind a new food product is a benefactor.
She spent most of her life as a volunteer and financial benefactor.
Officials are looking for a benefactor to give them $3 million.
Not have equal amounts of money distributed to us from some unknown benefactor.
British Dictionary definitions for benefactor
benefactor
/ˈbɛnɪˌfæktə; ˌbɛnɪˈfæk-/
noun
1.
a person who supports or helps a person, institution, etc, esp by giving money; patron
Derived Forms
benefactress, noun:feminine
Word Origin and History for benefactor
n.
mid-15c., from Late Latin benefactor, from Latin phrase bene facere, from bene "well" (see bene-) + facere "to do" (see factitious). Translated in Old English as wel-doend.