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

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

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

Our twisted version of a capitalist guardian angel, patron saint of spandex in a cropped matching set.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

But then one of their tormentors became a patron saint.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Although I hadn’t yet chosen St. Sebastian as my patron saint, he must have been working overtime, because I felt hardly any pain in my ankle after surgery.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Related Words

• guardian angel