patronizing
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does patronizing mean? Patronizing is an adjective that means displaying condescension toward a person in a way that arrogantly implies that it’s actually kind or helpful to that person.Patronizing can be used to describe a person or their words, tone, attitude, or actions.Patronizing is also the continuous (-ing) form of the verb patronize, which means to act toward someone in this way. (A separate sense of patronize means to be a customer—or patron—of a business or other establishment.)Being patronizing often takes the form of speaking to someone as if they were a child.Example: Don’t be so patronizing, Jeff—I understand the topic just as well as you do.
Other Word Forms
- nonpatronizing adjective
- patronizingly adverb
- quasi-patronizing adjective
- quasi-patronizingly adverb
- unpatronizing adjective
- unpatronizingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of patronizing
Compare meaning
How does patronizing compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
You can empathize with your friend without demonizing your own position or patronizing her by saying everything will be OK.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026
Epstein had made donations to Krauss’ Origins Project, part of his larger patronizing of the sciences.
From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026
A spokeswoman for Ruemmler said that in her message to Epstein, she was “obviously patronizing him.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026
A system that sells a triumph of courage regardless of outcome risks patronizing women athletes, rather than respecting their actual achievements.
From Slate • Jun. 28, 2025
Some know a great deal about cars and will be offended by a salesman who adopts a patronizing tone.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
