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

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

Wales celebrates its patron saint every year on 1 March.

From BBC

But then one of their tormentors became a patron saint.

From Barron's

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

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

Related Words

• guardian angel