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

With their help, the conference can put its money where its mouth is, as the patron saint of world-changing upstarts.

From Slate • May 8, 2026

Just as Pilates has a patron saint in Joseph Pilates, the field of somatics has the late Thomas Hanna, a philosopher and student of neurology who coined the term in 1976.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The remains of Italy's patron saint, St Francis of Assisi, have gone on public display to mark 800 years since his death.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

St Francis is Italy's patron saint and the 800th anniversary commemorations of his death will also see the restoration of an October 4 public holiday in his honour.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

There is my grandmother in the bed heaving and gasping with the labor pains, praying to St. Gerard Majella, patron saint of expectant mothers.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

Related Words

• guardian angel