Synonyms

patroness

American

[pey-truh-nis] / ˈpeɪ trə nɪs /

noun

a woman who protects, supports, or sponsors someone or something.

patroness British

/ ˈpeɪtrənˌɛs, pəˈtrəʊnəl /

noun

a woman who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor
See patron saint

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Gender

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of patroness

1375–1425; late Middle English patronesse female patron saint < Old French

Vocabulary lists containing patroness

Selection Vocabulary 1, Unit 5

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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.

From the first Batt applied himself to win his patroness' favour to his clever and needy friend.

From The Age of Erasmus Lectures Delivered in the Universities of Oxford and London by Allen, P. S. (Percy Stafford)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023