patron saint

American  

noun

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

---

patron saint British  

noun

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of patron saint

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

Wales celebrates its patron saint every year on 1 March.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

Many families with children, couples and elderly people could be seen under a large white marquee, waiting their turn to see the 13th century skeleton of Italy's patron saint.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

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 • Nov. 12, 2025

Among the small community of people who adore the photoplayer, Rinaudo is something of a patron saint.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

Indeed, it is the same figure provided by Las Casas, patron saint of High Counters, foremost among the old Spanish sources whose estimates Henige spends many pages discounting.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• guardian angel