donor

/ˈdoʊnər/

/ˈdʌʊnə/

Other forms: donors

A donor is a person who donates something of value to a person or an organization, especially a charity. A wealthy donor might leave her book collection to the local library in her will.

Buildings on college campuses are frequently named after generous donors — if you give millions of dollars to your school, they might name the new library after you, crediting you as a donor. Another kind of donor gives blood that can be used for transfusions, or agrees to donate organs after his or her death. Donor comes from the Latin root donare, "give as a gift."

Definitions of donor

1. noun

   a person who makes a gift of property
   synonyms: bestower, conferrer, giver, presenter

   types:

   abnegator

   one who gives up or relinquishes or renounces something

   almsgiver

   a person who gives alms

   Indian giver

   an offensive term for someone who asks you to return a present he has given you

   altruist, philanthropist

   someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being

   settlor, trustor

   (law) a person who creates a trust by giving real or personal property in trust to a trustee for the benefit of a beneficiary; a person who gives such property is said to settle it on the trustee

   contributor, subscriber

   someone who contributes (or promises to contribute) a sum of money

   subsidiser, subsidizer

   someone who assists or supports by giving a subsidy

   tipper

   a person who leaves a tip

   type of:

   benefactor, helper

   a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)
2. noun

   (medicine) someone who gives blood or tissue or an organ to be used in another person (the host)
   types:

   blood donor

   someone who gives blood to be used for transfusions

   organ donor

   someone from whom an organ is taken for transplantation

   universal donor

   a person whose type O Rh-negative blood may be safely transfused into persons with other blood types

   type of:

   benefactor, helper

   a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)