prestadora

Prestadora is a feminine noun used to designate an entity that provides services. In business and legal contexts, the term is often paired with “de servicios” to specify the nature of the activity, as in prestadora de servicios. It is commonly employed in Latin American Spanish to refer to companies or organizations that render professional, technical, or administrative services rather than manufacturing goods.

The word derives from the verb prestar, meaning to render or provide. The agent noun is formed with the suffix -dora, yielding prestadora, with the masculine counterpart prestador. The term is primarily used for organizations or individuals that contract to meet specific service needs, rather than for the act of lending.

Usage and scope can vary by sector. Typical examples include prestadora de servicios de tecnología (IT service provider), prestadora de servicios de salud (healthcare service provider), and prestadora de servicios de mantenimiento (maintenance service provider). In practice, many companies use Prestadora de Servicios as part of their legal or corporate name, signaling their function as a service provider.

Relation to other terms: prestadora is closely related to proveedor, both denoting entities that supply services, though proveedor can also refer to the broader notion of supplier. The masculine form prestador exists for male entities, and both forms are used in similar contexts depending on gender reference.

See also: proveedor, prestador, prestación de servicios, servicio.