donor

donor — noun

1. someone who provides blood, an organ, or other body material so that doctors can

1.nounB2
Definition

someone who provides blood, an organ, or other body material so that doctors can use it to treat a sick person

Example

The hospital is looking for new blood donors after a shortage last month.

collocation: blood donor

Lara's family agreed to let her become an organ donor after the accident.

collocation: organ donor

Common collocations
  • blood donor
  • organ donor
  • bone marrow donor
  • donor card
  • donor match
  • living donor
  • donor screening
Synonyms
  • giver

    less formal and not specific to medical contexts; a blood giver sounds unnatural

  • supplier

    suggests a commercial or ongoing arrangement rather than an altruistic act

Antonyms
  • recipient

    the person who receives the blood, organ, or tissue

  • patient

    the sick person who benefits from the donation

Grammar Patterns

donor + noun (blood donor, organ donor)

donor + of + noun

Usage Note

This sense covers all types of biological donation: blood, organs (kidney, liver, heart), tissue, bone marrow, eggs, and sperm. The term 'living donor' refers to someone who donates while alive (e.g., a kidney), while 'deceased donor' refers to donation after death.

Common Mistakes

He is a blood donator.
He is a blood donor.
the correct noun form is 'donor', not 'donator'.

2. any individual or group that supplies money, clothes, food, or other goods to he

2.nounB2
Definition

any individual or group that supplies money, clothes, food, or other goods to help a charity, school, political campaign, or similar institution carry out its work

Example

The charity relies on regular donors to fund its food program for children.

collocation: regular donor

A private donor gave the museum enough money to build a new hall.

collocation: private donor

Common collocations
  • regular donor
  • private donor
  • corporate donor
  • monthly donor
  • anonymous donor
  • charitable donor
  • major donor
Synonyms
  • benefactor

    implies a person who gives large sums, often with a personal connection to the cause

  • contributor

    can describe anyone who gives, but often suggests a smaller or more occasional gift

  • sponsor

    suggests a business arrangement where the giver receives publicity or other benefits in return

  • philanthropist

    reserved for wealthy individuals who give very large sums on a long-term basis

Antonyms
  • recipient

    the organization or person who receives the money or goods

Grammar Patterns

donor + to + organization

donor + of + money/goods

Common Mistakes

She made a donor to the hospital.
She made a donation to the hospital.
'donor' is a person; 'donation' is the money or goods given.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Donor, benefactor, contributor, giver, and philanthropist all refer to someone who provides something to others, but they differ in scope and formality. Donor is the most neutral and widely used term; it covers anyone who gives money, goods, or biological material and is the standard word in both charity and medical contexts. Benefactor suggests a person who gives substantial financial support, often to a specific institution such as a university or museum, and implies a long-term personal relationship with the cause. Contributor can describe someone who gives as part of a group effort and often implies smaller or occasional gifts — a person who sends $50 to a food drive is a contributor. Giver is more informal and everyday, less tied to organized charity; it works for any act of giving between individuals. Philanthropist is reserved for wealthy individuals who give very large sums strategically over time — for example, someone who endows a scholarship fund or establishes a foundation. A blood donor gives at a clinic; a regular contributor sends monthly support to a food bank; and a philanthropist funds an entire university building.

donor ↗benefactorcontributor ↗giver ↗philanthropist

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • become a donor
  • sign up as a donor
  • register as a donor
  • donor fatigue

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from Latin 'donare', meaning 'to give'. It passed through Old French 'dunour' before entering Middle English. The medical meaning of donating blood or organs became common in the mid-1900s as transplant surgery developed.