fundraiser

noun

fund·​rais·​er ˈfənd-ˌrā-zər How to pronounce fundraiser (audio)
variants or less commonly fund-raiser
plural fundraisers also fund-raisers
Synonyms of fundraisernext
1
: a person employed to raise funds (as for an institution or political cause)
a talented fundraiser
… hired not only for his popularity with the other scientists but for his proven abilities as a fundraiser.—James Shreeve
2
: a social event (such as a cocktail party) held for the purpose of raising funds
… he gained recognition by throwing a posh fundraiser for President Jimmy Carter.—James Ridgeway

Examples of fundraiser in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The flagship journal has stopped accepting manuscripts and grant reviews, fundraisers, and educational activities have ceased. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 Hely also hosted a fundraiser for Raman’s mayoral campaign with a mix of Hollywood and non-Hollywood people in attendance. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 To fund research toward that end, the Flynts started with small-scale fundraisers. — Ciara McCarthy 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 Earlier this week, Kelce took part in an annual fundraiser for Operation Breakthrough. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fundraiser

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fundraiser was in 1881

Rhymes for fundraiser

See All Rhymes for fundraiser

Browse Nearby Words

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fundraiser
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Cite this Entry

“Fundraiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fundraiser. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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