patron saint

American  

noun

• patron saints
  plural

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.

---

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

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

“Yes, but we’re moving up,” Cuevas replied, clutching a Mexican flag emblazoned with St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of lost causes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

Who is the patron saint of lost causes?

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

He couldn’t overcome the opposition, including the powerful maritime unions, and called himself the patron saint of lost causes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

She had special ceremonies for San Mateo, Matt’s patron saint, and for her own Santa Cecilia.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• guardian angel