plural patrons
1
a
: a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter
a patron of the arts
b
: a wealthy or influential supporter of an artist or writer
… the unspoken contract between artist and patron …—
D. D. R. Owen
D. D. R. Owen
c
: a social or financial sponsor of a social function (such as a ball or concert)
a patron of the annual masked ball
2
: one that uses wealth or influence to help an individual, an institution, or a cause
a patron of the city library
3
: one who buys the goods or uses the services offered especially by an establishment
a restaurant's patrons
4
: the holder of the right of presentation to an English ecclesiastical benefice
5
: a master (see master entry 1 sense 2g) in ancient times who freed a person he had held in slavery but retained some rights over that person
6
[French, from Middle French]
: the proprietor of an establishment (such as an inn) especially in France
7
: the chief male officer in some fraternal lodges having both men and women members
Examples of patron in a Sentence
She is a well-known patron of the arts.
the wealthy philanthropist is one of the city's most generous patrons of its symphony orchestra
Recent Examples on the Web
The resentment that artists feel about the act of laundering their patron’s cultural cache has been around at least as long as the Greeks were dealing with Alcibiades, but Mac brings a pleasurably vicious mania to this particular play-as-tirade.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 June 2025
Over the course of her career, Gentileschi, the daughter of the Mannerist painter Orazio Gentileschi, was commissioned by top artistic patrons — the Medici family in Italy as well as monarchs Philip IV of Spain and Charles I of England — before being lost to history following her death in 1653.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
Now, the longtime Southampton compound of the late sculptor Hal Buckner and his late partner, arts patron Dorothy Lichtenstein, widow of pop art icon Roy Lichtenstein, has hit the market for just under $8 million with Pat Garrity at Corcoran.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 June 2025
However, the movie springs to life about midway through, once the bar patrons realize the situation.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for patron
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Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 June 2025
Over the course of her career, Gentileschi, the daughter of the Mannerist painter Orazio Gentileschi, was commissioned by top artistic patrons — the Medici family in Italy as well as monarchs Philip IV of Spain and Charles I of England — before being lost to history following her death in 1653.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
Now, the longtime Southampton compound of the late sculptor Hal Buckner and his late partner, arts patron Dorothy Lichtenstein, widow of pop art icon Roy Lichtenstein, has hit the market for just under $8 million with Pat Garrity at Corcoran.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 June 2025
However, the movie springs to life about midway through, once the bar patrons realize the situation.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for patron
Cite this Entry
“Patron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patron. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patron
noun
pa·tron
ˈpā-trən 
1
: a person chosen as a special guardian or supporter
a patron of poets
2
: one who gives generous support or approval
a patron of the arts
3
: a person who buys the goods or uses the services offered (as by a business)
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