patronize

[ pey-truh-nahyz, pa‑ ]

verb (used with object)

, pa·tron·ized, pa·tron·iz·ing.

1. to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage; trade with.
2. to behave in an offensively condescending manner toward:

   a professor who patronizes his students.

3. to act as a patron toward (an artist, institution, etc.); support.

patronize

/ ˈpætrəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to behave or treat in a condescending way
2. tr to act as a patron or patroness by sponsoring or bringing trade to

Derived Forms

• ˈpatronˌizer, noun

Other Words From

• patron·iza·ble adjective
• patron·i·zation noun
• patron·izer noun
• re·patron·ize verb (used with object) repatronized repatronizing
• trans·patron·ize verb (used with object) transpatronized transpatronizing
• un·patron·iza·ble adjective
• well-patron·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of patronize¹

First recorded in 1580–90; patron + -ize

Example Sentences

Shops are open, sidewalk cafes are well patronized and cars clog the streets.

From Los Angeles Times

To distract from that din, my dad — wearing a Dodgers jersey and hat — rattled off a bunch of long-gone bars he used to patronize on the Eastside.

From Los Angeles Times

As a politician, he courts the center by patronizing what he sees as the fringe.

From Salon

Trump’s term in office was marked by concerns that foreign governments sought to curry favor by patronizing his businesses, including his Washington, D.C., hotel.

From Salon

Two years of patronizing tones from the rest of the Big Ten Conference suggested as much about USC, which, until this fall, hadn’t offered much reason to believe it belonged in such a weight class.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deign
• snub

More About Patronize

What does patronize mean?

To patronize is to be a customer (or patron) of a business or other establishment.

In this sense, patronize most often means to be a paying customer, especially a regular one. However, you can patronize establishments that are not businesses—you can patronize a library, for example.

Example: I patronize local shops and restaurants whenever I can in order to support people in my own community, instead of enriching faceless corporations.

Patronize also means to act condescendingly toward a person in a way that arrogantly implies that you’re being kind or helpful to that person. This often takes the form of speaking to someone as if they were a child. Someone who acts in this way can be described as patronizing.

Example: Don’t patronize me, Jeff—I understand the topic just as well as you do.

Where does patronize come from?

The first records of patronize come from around 1590. Its base word, patron, comes from the Latin patrōnus, meaning “legal protector” or “advocate” (patrōnus comes from the Latin pater, meaning “father”). The suffix -ize makes it into a verb essentially meaning “to be a patron of.”

A patron is a customer or a supporter of a particular institution (a patron of the arts, for example). To patronize, then, typically means to support a business by being a loyal customer—frequently shopping there, as opposed to only buying something once a year on Small Business Saturday. This sense of the word is usually positive, but the condescending sense is always negative.

To patronize someone in this condescending way is to treat them as if they’re in need of extra help because they’re not capable by themselves. This is often done with a patronizing tone. Another way to patronize someone is to tell them what you think they want to hear.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to patronize?

• patronizing (adjective)
• patronizer (noun)
• repatronize (verb)
• patronization (noun)
• patrionizable (adjective)
• patron (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with patronize? 

• patronage
• father

What are some words that often get used in discussing patronize?

 

• local
• business
• condescending
• restaurant
• store
• establishment
• shop
• customer
• buy

How is patronize used in real life?

When it refers to being a customer or patron, patronize is usually positive. When it refers to treating a person in a condescending way, it’s always negative.

Not to be 🌽🌽🌽, but we think it's important to remember to patronize local businesses when you go to festivals in Chicago.

— Do312 (@Do312) July 3, 2016

Books are expensive, patronize the library. It's literally FREE.

— let's go Ayo (@letsgoayo) May 6, 2014

Sexist bike shop rant.
I know what size tube I need.
I know how to put my own cleats in.
Don’t patronize me.
Don’t argue with me.

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) July 10, 2020

 

 

Try using patronize!

True or False? 

In the context of being a customer, patronize only means to be a customer of local businesses.