patron

¹ American  

[pey-truhn] / ˈpeɪ trən /

noun

1. a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, especially a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.

2. a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like.

   a patron of the arts; patrons of the annual Democratic dance.

3. a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.

4. patron saint.

5. Roman History. the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.

6. Ecclesiastical. a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.

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patrón ² American  

[pah-trawn] / pɑˈtrɔn /

noun

Spanish.

plural

patrones

1. (in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.) a boss; employer.

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patron ¹ British  

/ ˈpeɪtrən, pəˈtrəʊnəl /

noun

1. a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor

2. a customer of a shop, hotel, etc, esp a regular one

3. See patron saint

4. (in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him

5. Christianity a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice

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patron ² British  

/ patrɔ̃ /

noun

1. a man, who owns or manages a hotel, restaurant, or bar

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patron ³ British  

/ ˈpætərn /

noun

1. a variant spelling of pattern 2

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Other Word Forms

• patronal adjective
• patrondom noun
• patronless adjective
• patronly adjective
• patronship noun
• subpatronal adjective

Etymology

Origin of patron¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Medieval Latin, Latin patrōnus “legal protector, advocate” ( Medieval Latin: “lord, master”), derivative of pater “father”; pattern

Origin of patrón²

First recorded in 1860–65; from Spanish; patron ( def. )

Example Sentences

Plus, this way, both artists and patrons have time to say their goodbyes.

From Los Angeles Times

Come the Revolution, David enthusiastically embraced the radical Robespierre faction, even voting for the execution of Louis XVI, his former patron.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mayors of China's major cities have powerful patrons in the Communist Party's top committee and strong performance incentives, making these posts "important stepping stones for further promotions", according to Brookings Institution.

From BBC

Morris was a patron of Heads Up, a charity supporting research into head and neck cancer, after surviving throat cancer which was diagnosed in 2002.

From BBC

A reconciliation deal between the warring parties' main foreign patrons, Riyadh and Tehran, in early 2023 saw nearly 900 prisoners released in April that year.

From Barron's

Related Words

• advocate
• backer
• benefactor
• fan
• friend
• leader
• philanthropist
• sponsor
• supporter
• well-wisher