patron saint

American  

noun

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

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patron saint British  

noun

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

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patron saint Cultural  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of patron saint

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

On top of his dash was a plastic statue of Saint Christopher, patron saint of travelers.

From Literature

The County Down town may be better known as the home of St Patrick, but it's said Ireland's two other patron saints, Brigid and Colmcille are also buried there.

From BBC

The giant candlesticks’ scrolled feet support robustly modeled evangelists; Mark is most conspicuous, as befits the patron saint of Venice.

From The Wall Street Journal

The portrait of Finley’s wife, Cameron Washington, was perched in the southwest corner, looking down on the space like a kind of patron saint of all the portraits, over a dozen total.

From Los Angeles Times

I have been called the “king of weird” and the “patron saint of oddball cars.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• guardian angel