patina

American  

[pat-n-uh, puh-tee-nuh] / ˈpæt n ə, pəˈti nə /

noun

• patinas
  plural

1. a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value.

2. a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance.

3. a surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age.

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patina ¹ British  

/ ˈpætɪnə /

noun

1. a film of oxide formed on the surface of a metal, esp the green oxidation of bronze or copper See also verdigris

2. any fine layer on a surface

   a patina of frost

3. the sheen on a surface that is caused by much handling

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patina ² British  

/ ˈpætɪnə /

noun

1. a broad shallow dish used in ancient Rome

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• patinas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of patina

1740–50; < Italian: coating < Latin: pan. See paten

Explanation

If you have an old bronze sculpture with a surface that has oxidized and turned green or brown, that coating is called a patina. A patina can appear on anything made of metal. A patina can also be the shiny surface on wooden furniture that you get after years and years of polishing. You can also use the word in a metaphorical sense, to describe somebody who has acquired some surface character that doesn't go very deep — like the tycoon who has a patina of sophistication but only pretends to be interested in art and literature.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

patina patinas

But that merely gives his deep-rooted oddness a patina of the normal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Steven Cook, a senior fellow for Middle East issues at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Iran was pressuring Oman into the joint plan so it has the patina of a legitimate cross-strait project.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Each turnover being a rare event, most every fresh host has been greeted with a chorus of “Who? What? Why?” before time accords the newcomer a patina of inevitability.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

“Overcleaning can remove patina, soften detail and reduce value — particularly for antique pieces. When in doubt, leave it as is,” said Emily Otranto, lead researcher with M.S.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 31, 2025

Again I looked down at the long drop to the glacier, then up, then scraped away the patina of ice above my head.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

At his Paris studio, Saint-Gaudens began pumping out scaled-down versions, each about 2½ feet tall and in a choice of different bronze patinas — black, green, golden brown — to meet customer demand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2025

He has always been partial to chalky patinas and his houses are full of classical references, natural light and antiques.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 15, 2021

As they are used, cooking vessels naturally build up organic residues such as charred bits, thin coatings known as patinas, and absorbed fats.

From New York Times ● Sep. 14, 2020

Fashionable homes across the country began sprouting lichened stone urns and zinc-top pedestal tables bearing sun-bleached patinas.

From Architectural Digest ● Mar. 18, 2015

Where I remembered patinas of green mold there was wallpaper and wainscoting and cheerful shades of paint.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• blanket
• coat
• crust
• glaze
• layer
• membrane
• sheet
• skin
• varnish
• veneer