patron saint

noun

1. a saint regarded as the special guardian of a person, group, trade, country, etc.

patron saint

noun

1. a saint regarded as the particular guardian of a country, church, trade, person, etc

patron saint

1. A saint from whom a person or group claims special protection or prayers. Saint Christopher , for example, is considered the patron of travelers; Saint Luke, the patron of doctors; and Saint Patrick , the patron of Ireland . People who have the same name as a saint may consider the saint their patron. The honoring of patron saints is especially common in the Roman Catholic Church .

Word History and Origins

Origin of patron saint¹

First recorded in 1710–20

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

The Samaritans passed a small shrine to St. Jude — the patron saint of lost causes — on the Mexico side.

From Los Angeles Times

There were times on the first day of the first Test against Pakistan that England must have hoped for help from the patron saint of taking wickets.

From BBC

He declares himself "the patron saint of the denial / With an angel face and a taste for suicidal," representing a more aggressive rejection of societal norms.

From Salon

I light a candle in front of Santa Barbara, the patron saint of my family, and ask her to guide me.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• guardian angel