If an organization or an individual sponsors something such as an event or someone's training, they pay some or all of the expenses connected with it, often in order to get publicity for themselves.

In Britain, if you sponsor someone who is doing something to raise money for charity, for example trying to walk a certain distance, you agree to give them a sum of money for the charity if they succeed in doing it.

If you sponsor a proposal or suggestion, you officially put it forward and support it.

When a country or an organization such as the United Nations sponsors negotiations between countries, it suggests holding the negotiations and organizes them.

If one country accuses another of sponsoring attacks on it, they mean that the other country does not do anything to prevent the attacks, and may even encourage them.

If a company or organization sponsors a television programme, they pay to have a special advertisement shown at the beginning and end of the programme, and at each commercial break.

A sponsor is a person or organization that sponsors something or someone.