patron

[ pey-truhn ]
See synonyms for: patronpatrons on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.

  2. Roman History. the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.

  3. Ecclesiastical. a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.

Origin of patron

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Medieval Latin, Latin patrōnus “legal protector, advocate” (Medieval Latin: “lord, master”), derivative of pater “father”; see pattern

Other words from patron

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

Words Nearby patron

Other definitions for patrón (2 of 2)

patrón
[ pah-trawn ]

noun,plural pa·tron·es [pah-traw-nes]. /pɑˈtrɔ nɛs/. Spanish.
  1. (in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.) a boss; employer.

Origin of patrón

2
First recorded in 1860–65; from Spanish; see patron

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use patron in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for patron (1 of 3)

patron1

/ (ˈpeɪtrən) /


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

  1. (in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him

  2. Christianity a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice

Origin of patron

1
C14: via Old French from Latin patrōnus protector, from pater father

Derived forms of patron

  • patronal (pəˈtrəʊnəl), adjective
  • patronly, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for patron (2 of 3)

patron2

/ French (patrɔ̃) /


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

British Dictionary definitions for patron (3 of 3)

patron3

/ (ˈpætərn) /


noun
  1. Irish a variant spelling of pattern 2

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012