patron saint
noun
a saint regarded as the special guardian of a person, group, trade, country, etc.
patron saints
-
pluralof patron saint.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Oklahoma City has treated McClendon and Larry Nichols as something like patron saints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The County Down town may be better known as the home of St Patrick, but it's said Ireland's two other patron saints, Brigid and Colmcille are also buried there.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
Tatulli still finds some of that in his gigs with a marching band for the popular feasts of patron saints — whose celebrations are crucial to fellow band member Federico Ferri.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2023
Many Andalusian cities, towns and villages developed their own pilgrimages — known as romerías, so named because pilgrims traditionally walked to Rome — dedicated to their particular patron saints.
From New York Times ● May 8, 2023
"The paunch of the ass signifies the great chest wherein Christians put their offerings to the patron saints of our cathedral."
From Caricature and Other Comic Art in all Times and many Lands. by James Parton
