patron saint

American  

noun

• patron saints
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• patron saints
  plural

Etymology

Origin of patron saint

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

patron saint

Magical realism was in its heyday, and Gabriel García Márquez was becoming its patron saint.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Ceuta's regional government cancelled the city's annual patron saint festivities, which were due to begin on Saturday, due to the "current circumstances".

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

Here the enduring wisdom of Indian spiritual philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, Ojai’s informal patron saint, serves even to hold a recent incursion of ultra-rich to account.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

But England is a nation divided over its identity and even over how to celebrate its patron saint.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

Maybe nail clippers, a rosary, or a scapular with a tiny drawing of San Cristobal, the patron saint of travelers, or of San Judas Tadeo, the patron saint of desperate situations.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Related Words

• guardian angel