patron

¹

[ pey-truhn ]

noun

1. a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, especially a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.
2. 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.

3. a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.
4. patron saint.
5. Roman History. the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.
6. Ecclesiastical. a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.

patrón

²

[ pah-trawn ]

noun

, Spanish.

, plural pa·tron·es [pah-, traw, -nes].

1. (in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.) a boss; employer.

patron

¹

/ patrɔ̃ /

noun

1. a man, who owns or manages a hotel, restaurant, or bar

patron

²

/ ˈpætərn /

noun

1. a variant spelling of pattern 2

patron

³

/ ˈpeɪtrən; pəˈtrəʊnəl /

noun

1. a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor
2. a customer of a shop, hotel, etc, esp a regular one
3. See patron saint
4. (in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him
5. Christianity a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice

Derived Forms

• patronal, adjective
• ˈpatronly, adjective

Other Words From

• patron·al patron·ly adjective
• patron·dom patron·ship noun
• patron·less adjective
• sub·patron·al adjective

Word History and Origins

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 patron²

First recorded in 1860–65; from Spanish; patron ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of patron¹

C14: via Old French from Latin patrōnus protector, from pater father

Example Sentences

The Archangel Michael is the patron saint of police officers, so I wanted to ask Jurado if her pendant was a sly dig at her antagonists.

From Los Angeles Times

“My dad gave it to me a few weeks ago,” she responded, adding that it’s the patron saint of his hometown in the Philippines.

From Los Angeles Times

This makes me worry about what they’re going to do after November, because I think they’re in a patron–client world, where the facts don’t really matter and the Constitution obviously doesn’t matter to them.

From Slate

“Sheehy,” said Francis, another patron, because Tester had been running for so many years, and everyone knew what he was about.

From Slate

The club was founded in 1897 and its patron is King Charles III.

From BBC

Related Words

• advocate
• backer
• benefactor
• fan
• friend
• leader
• philanthropist
• sponsor
• supporter
• well-wisher