patron
1 Americannoun
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a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, especially a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.
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a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like.
a patron of the arts; patrons of the annual Democratic dance.
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a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.
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Roman History. the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.
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Ecclesiastical. a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.
noun
plural
patronesnoun
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a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor
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a customer of a shop, hotel, etc, esp a regular one
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See patron saint
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(in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him
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Christianity a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
- patronal adjective
- patrondom noun
- patronless adjective
- patronly adjective
- patronship noun
- subpatronal adjective
Etymology
Origin of patron1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Medieval Latin, Latin patrōnus “legal protector, advocate” ( Medieval Latin: “lord, master”), derivative of pater “father”; pattern
Origin of patrón2
First recorded in 1860–65; from Spanish; patron ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wales celebrates its patron saint every year on 1 March.
From BBC
But then one of their tormentors became a patron saint.
From Barron's
“She had many wealthy patrons here in New York—Mr. Livermore, a wealthy banker …”
From Literature
Fundraisers often beat the bushes—and alumni networks—cultivating relationships with potential patrons.
As shopping carts ran out, some patrons bought laundry baskets to load their groceries in.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
