Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

patron

1 American  
[pey-truhn] / ˈpeɪ trən /

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.

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

  4. patron saint.

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

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

patrón 2 American  
[pah-trawn] / pɑˈtrɔn /

noun

Spanish.

plural

patrones

  1. (in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.) a boss; employer.

patron 1 British  
/ ˈpeɪtrən, pəˈtrəʊnəl /

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

  3. See patron saint

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

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

"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
patron 2 British  
/ patrɔ̃ /

noun

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

"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
patron 3 British  
/ ˈpætərn /

noun

  1. 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

Other Word Forms

  • patronal adjective
  • patrondom noun
  • patronless adjective
  • patronly adjective
  • patronship noun
  • subpatronal adjective

Etymology

Origin of patron1

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

Origin of patrón2

First recorded in 1860–65; from Spanish; patron ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Earlier this month, Princess Eugenie stepped down as patron of charity Anti-Slavery International, a role she had held for seven years.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

More gave Holbein a place to stay while the painter was in London and became his most important patron during his two-year sojourn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Also, if I’m a longtime patron of the business, I make note of that.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Gosling stayed in character for the most part as an annoyed hotel patron who’s been overcharged for visits from the “Goo Goo Man.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026

“I do not like to study,” she says, shaking her head, “but Mother Ermentrude is a great patron of learning. Our library has many treasures. One day I will show you.”

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.