# supporter

Pronunciation: US say "suh-POR-tur" /səˈpɔɹ.tɚ/; UK/AUS say "suh-PAW-tuh" /səˈpɔː.tə/

## Noun

1. Someone who backs a cause, movement, or political party, speaking up for it, promoting it, or following it.
   - Simple: Someone who backs a cause, group, or political party and helps it succeed.
   - _The candidate thanked each supporter who knocked on doors during the campaign._
   - _Lifelong supporters of the movement gathered to mark its anniversary._
2. A person who is a fan of a particular sports team or sportsperson.
   - Simple: A fan who follows and cheers for a sports team or athlete.
   - _As a devoted supporter, she never misses a home game._
   - _Away supporters traveled hundreds of miles to watch the match._
3. A person who gives moral or physical help to another, or an attendant taking part in a ceremony or procession.
   - Simple: A person who helps and stands by another, or who walks beside someone in a ceremony.
   - _The groom chose his brother as his supporter for the wedding._
   - _Each runner had a supporter waiting at the finish line to help them recover._
4. An object or part that holds up, braces, or bears the weight of another thing.
   - Simple: A thing that holds up or holds in place another thing.
   - _Engineers added a metal supporter to keep the beam from sagging._
   - _The tent collapsed when one supporter snapped in the wind._
5. A structural element that holds up and bears the load of a building, sculpture, or similar construction.
   - Simple: A strong part that holds up a building, statue, or other large structure.
   - _The architect designed a steel supporter to carry the upper floors._
   - _Cracks appeared where the main supporter met the foundation._
6. Clipping of athletic supporter. — Clipping of athletic supporter.
   - Simple: Short form of athletic supporter. It names the protective sports garment also called a jockstrap.
   - _Every player on the team wore a supporter under his uniform._
   - _She bought her son a new supporter before the football season began._
7. A leg band that keeps a sock or stocking from slipping down.
   - Simple: A band worn around the leg to hold up a sock or stocking.
   - _Each supporter clipped neatly to the top of his stocking._
   - _She fastened a supporter just below the knee to hold the sock in place._
8. An animal or figure that holds up the shield in a coat of arms.
   - Simple: An animal or figure drawn holding up a shield in a coat of arms.
   - _The royal arms feature a crowned lion as one supporter and a unicorn as the other._
   - _Heraldic supporters often stand in mirrored poses on each side of the shield._

## Origin

From Middle English supporter or supportour, formed from "support" combined with the suffix "-er".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/supporter (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).