sponsorship
gb/spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/ us/spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/
B2
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
relation
1
financial backing in return for exposure
Money or help that a company or organization gives to an event, team, or person so that its name or products are seen by many people.
Usage pattern:
sponsorship for [event/activity]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "sponsorship" (the support itself) with "sponsor" (the person or company). For example, they might say *"We need a sponsorship"* when they mean *"We need a sponsor"*, or use the wrong preposition, saying *"sponsorship to the event"* instead of *"sponsorship for/of the event".*
Synonyms
funding (General word for giving money; does not always suggest a marketing or advertising purpose like sponsorship often does.)
Antonyms
defunding (Refers to removing or stopping financial support, which is the opposite of providing sponsorship.)
Collocations
corporate sponsorship
|sports sponsorship
|sponsorship deal
|seek sponsorship
|title sponsorship
|sponsorship package
Themes
business
|sports
|media
|money
|finance
|communication
Examples
- The football club relies heavily on corporate sponsorship to pay its players.
- We secured a three‑year sponsorship deal with a major electronics brand.
- The concert was canceled after the main sponsorship was withdrawn.
- Their logo appears on the team’s shirts as part of the sponsorship agreement.
- The TV program is broadcast with sponsorship from several local businesses.
Learner examples
- The race gets money through company sponsorship.
- We are looking for sponsorship for our school concert.
- His trip to the competition was possible because of sponsorship from a sports brand.
- The event lost its sponsorship and had to be smaller.
- The team has new sponsorship, so they bought better equipment.
Noun
formal
C1
relation
2
official or institutional backing
Formal support or backing for a project, activity, or idea, usually from an important person or group.
Usage pattern:
sponsorship of [project/initiative]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use simple "support" instead of "sponsorship" in formal writing, missing the idea of an official or named role. They may also overuse this sense in everyday contexts where plain "support" or "help" sounds more natural.
Synonyms
backing (A broad term for support, especially from powerful people; it does not always imply a defined formal role like sponsorship can.)
Antonyms
opposition (Describes active resistance to a project or idea, which contrasts with giving sponsorship or backing to it.)
Collocations
government sponsorship
|official sponsorship
|UN sponsorship
|political sponsorship
|under the sponsorship of
Themes
politics
|business
|education
|nonprofits
|work
Examples
- The research program grew rapidly under the sponsorship of the national science foundation.
- With the sponsorship of several senior senators, the bill quickly moved through committee.
- The festival operates under the sponsorship of the city council and several cultural institutions.
- International sponsorship from UNESCO helped protect the site as a world heritage area.
- The initiative requires the sponsorship of at least one board member before it can proceed.
Learner examples
- The new law had the sponsorship of two important politicians.
- Our project only started after we got sponsorship from the city.
- The school club is under the sponsorship of the student council.
- The program needs the sponsorship of a large organization to continue.
- The museum is run with the sponsorship of the local government.
Noun
technical
C1
relation
3
formal responsibility for a person
A formal agreement where a person or group is responsible for another person, for example for their visa, studies, or living costs.
Usage pattern:
sponsorship for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix this meaning with simple "donation" or "support" and do not realize that sponsorship here usually means a formal, often legal responsibility with documents and conditions, especially for visas or long‑term charity programs.
Synonyms
guarantee (Suggests a promise to be responsible, especially financially or legally; sponsorship often includes this but is tied to specific programs or rules.)
Antonyms
rejection (In contexts like visas or programs, the opposite of being given sponsorship is having your application refused or not being accepted.)
Collocations
visa sponsorship
|child sponsorship
|educational sponsorship
|scholarship sponsorship
|employment sponsorship
Themes
law
|immigration
|education
|charity
|relationships
Examples
- The company agreed to provide visa sponsorship for the new engineer.
- Many charities offer child sponsorship programs that support education and healthcare.
- International students often need proof of sponsorship before their study permit is approved.
- Her residency application was refused because she did not have valid sponsorship.
- The organization ended its sponsorship of several children due to budget cuts.
Learner examples
- He moved abroad with visa sponsorship from his employer.
- The charity asked people to join their child sponsorship program.
- You need financial sponsorship for your study visa.
- Without sponsorship, her visa application will be very difficult.
- They stopped the sponsorship of the child after they lost their jobs.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sponsorship
IPA
GB/spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/
US/spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/
Syllables & stress
spon - sor - ship (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (spon)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sponsorship
- Plural: sponsorship
Word family
Core family
sponsor
noun B1
Related words
cosponsor
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unsponsored
adjective
Expressions
child sponsorship
1/t͡ʃˈaɪld spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
charity support for a child
A charity program where a person gives money regularly to support one child’s needs, such as food, school, and healthcare.
Examples
- The organization runs a child sponsorship scheme in several countries.
- Many families take part in child sponsorship to help children go to school.
corporate sponsorship
1/kˈɔɹpɚɪt spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
company funding for publicity
Money or help that a company gives to an event, team, or program so that its name or products are seen by many people.
Examples
- The exhibition depends on corporate sponsorship from several large banks.
- Corporate sponsorship has transformed the club’s finances in recent years.
seek sponsorship
1/sˈik spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
try to get sponsorship
To look for companies or people who will give money or support to an event, project, or person as sponsors.
Examples
- The team is seeking sponsorship to cover travel costs for the tournament.
- We plan to seek sponsorship from local businesses for the charity walk.
under the sponsorship of
1/ˈʌndɚ ðə spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp əv/
fixed phrase
formal
being officially backed by
Used to say that an activity or project is officially supported or run by a named person or organization.
Examples
- The conference was held under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Health.
- The project operates under the sponsorship of a major international agency.
visa sponsorship
1/vˈizə spˈɑnsɚʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
technical
formal support for a visa
Official support from a company or school that helps a person get a visa to live, work, or study in a country.
Examples
- The job offer includes visa sponsorship for successful candidates.
- Without visa sponsorship, he cannot legally work in that country.