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patronize

[pey-truh-nahyz, pa‐]
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verb (used with object), pa·tron·ized, pa·tron·iz·ing.
  1. to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage; trade with.
  2. to behave in an offensively condescending manner toward: a professor who patronizes his students.
  3. to act as a patron toward (an artist, institution, etc.); support.
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Also especially British, pa·tron·ise.

Origin of patronize

First recorded in 1580–90; patron + -ize
Related formspa·tron·iz·a·ble, adjectivepa·tron·i·za·tion, nounpa·tron·iz·er, nounre·pa·tron·ize, verb (used with object), re·pa·tron·ized, re·pa·tron·iz·ing.trans·pa·tron·ize, verb (used with object), trans·pa·tron·ized, trans·pa·tron·iz·ing.un·pa·tron·iz·a·ble, adjectivewell-pa·tron·ized, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for patronise

Historical Examples

  • If we patronise "Irish manufacture," it is because we cannot afford English.

    Nuts and Nutcrackers

    Charles James Lever

  • "Patronise Lewis; he cut this trail at his own expense," pleaded one.

  • But I have friends whom they patronise, and my mind is quite open on the subject.

  • Did you ever know your friend Tarbolt patronise this institution before?

    Brother Copas

    Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

  • She did not know how it was, but it was very difficult to patronise Mr Hope.

    Deerbrook

    Harriet Martineau

British Dictionary definitions for patronise

patronize

patronise

verb
  1. to behave or treat in a condescending way
  2. (tr) to act as a patron or patroness by sponsoring or bringing trade to
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Derived Formspatronizer or patroniser, noun
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

Word Origin and History for patronise

v.

chiefly British English spelling of patronize (q.v.); for suffix, see -ize.

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patronize

v.

1580s, "to act as a patron towards," from patron + -ize, or from Old French patroniser. Meaning "treat in a condescending way" is first attested 1797; sense of "give regular business to" is from 1801. Related: Patronized; patronizing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper