patron saint
noun
1
: a saint to whose protection and intercession a person, a society, a church, or a place is dedicated
2
: an original leader or prime exemplar
Synonyms
Examples of patron saint in a Sentence
St. David is the patron saint of Wales.
St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
The success of her books has made her the patron saint of a new literary movement.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Virgin Mary was the patron saint of Siena, memorialized by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in his masterpiece fresco in the city.
—
Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Reagan’s June 2004 state funeral, presided over by George W. Bush in the midst of his re-election campaign, felt less like a farewell than a feast day for the modern Republican Party’s patron saint.
—Jonathan Darman, airmail.news, 14 Sep. 2024
With one exception, the celebration has been held every five years since on the last weekend of July to coincide with the celebration of San Ignatius de Loyola, the patron saint of Basque people, according to the Basque Foundation.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 14 Jan. 2025
The night of June 23rd into the 24th marks the peak of midsummer festivities and coincides with the celebration of the city’s cherished patron saint, through a unique merge of Catholic and pagan rituals that stretches back centuries.
—Ana Leorne, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024
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Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Reagan’s June 2004 state funeral, presided over by George W. Bush in the midst of his re-election campaign, felt less like a farewell than a feast day for the modern Republican Party’s patron saint.
—Jonathan Darman, airmail.news, 14 Sep. 2024
With one exception, the celebration has been held every five years since on the last weekend of July to coincide with the celebration of San Ignatius de Loyola, the patron saint of Basque people, according to the Basque Foundation.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 14 Jan. 2025
The night of June 23rd into the 24th marks the peak of midsummer festivities and coincides with the celebration of the city’s cherished patron saint, through a unique merge of Catholic and pagan rituals that stretches back centuries.
—Ana Leorne, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for patron saint
Dictionary Entries Near patron saint
Cite this Entry
“Patron saint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patron%20saint. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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