Patron — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈpā-trən/ pa·tron

Meaning & Definition of Patron

Patron (noun)

  1. a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter
  2. a wealthy or influential supporter of an artist or writer
  3. a social or financial sponsor of a social function (such as a ball or concert)

Patron (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business

    "a restaurant patron"

    similar: account, client, customer, guest, punter (chiefly British)
    related: consumer, end user, user, buyer, correspondent, purchaser, vendee, browser, prospect, shopper, window-shopper, bargainer, haggler, regular
    near: broker, merchant, seller, vendor, shopkeeper, tradesman, black marketer, fence

  2. a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing

    "the wealthy philanthropist is one of the city's most generous patrons of its symphony orchestra"

    similar: backer, guarantor, sponsor, surety
    related: chaperone, advocate, champion, supporter, angel, benefactor, underwriter, coach, mentor, teacher, cosponsor, cosignatory, cosigner

  3. one that helps another with gifts or money

    "the patron for the museum's current blockbuster is the city's biggest banking institution"

    similar: angel, benefactor, donator, donor, fairy godmother, Maecenas, sugar daddy
    related: benefactress, patroness, almoner, almsgiver, philanthropist, altruist, bestower, contributor, giver, helper, subscriber, supporter, guardian angel, protector, savior
    near: beneficiary, donee, giftee, recipient

Related Entry: Patron saint (noun)

Patron saint is a different word from Patron. The synonyms below are for patron saint, not for patron.

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "around the statehouse he's known as the patron saint of partisan politics"

    similar: beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, ideal, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon
    related: role model, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink, archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern, guideline, principle, rule, gauge, standard, touchstone, essence, quintessence, acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

Related Entry: Patron saints (noun)

Patron saints is a different word from Patron. The synonyms below are for patron saints, not for patron.

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "around the statehouse he's known as the patron saint of partisan politics"

    similar: beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons
    related: role models, embodiments, epitomes, incarnations, manifestations, personifications, phantoms, pinks, archetypes, examples, mirrors, paradigms, patterns, guidelines, principles, rules, gauges, standards, touchstones, essences, quintessences, acmes, apexes, apotheoses, culminations, peaks, pinnacles, summits, zeniths

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Patron

The most common words with a similar meaning to Patron:

Chiefly British: punter
account, client, customer, guest, backer, guarantor, sponsor, surety, angel, benefactor, donator, donor, fairy godmother, Maecenas, sugar daddy

Related Words for Patron

consumer, end user, user, buyer, correspondent, purchaser, vendee, browser, prospect, shopper, window-shopper, bargainer, haggler, regular, chaperone, advocate, champion, supporter, underwriter, coach, mentor, teacher, cosponsor, cosignatory, cosigner, benefactress, patroness, almoner, almsgiver, philanthropist

Near Antonyms of Patron

broker, merchant, seller, vendor, shopkeeper, tradesman, black marketer, fence, beneficiary, donee, giftee, recipient

Word Forms of Patron

Inflections: patrons

Derived words: patronal (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Patron

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin patronus patron saint, patron of a benefice, pattern, from Latin, defender, from patr-, pater

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Patron

Words & Phrases Containing Patron

patron saint

Frequently Asked Questions about Patron

What does "Patron" mean?

"Patron" means a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter. As a noun, it is defined as: a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Patron"?

Other words for "Patron" include account, client, customer, guest, punter, backer, guarantor and sponsor. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Patron" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Patron"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Patron". Common alternatives include account, client, customer, guest, punter, backer, guarantor, sponsor, surety and angel.

How do you use "Patron" in a sentence?

Examples of "Patron" in a sentence: "a restaurant patron"; "the wealthy philanthropist is one of the city's most generous patrons of its symphony orchestra"; "the patron for the museum's current blockbuster is the city's biggest banking institution".

Is "Patron" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Patron" is a noun.

Is "Patron" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Patron" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Patron"?

"Patron" is pronounced /ˈpā-trən/ and divided into syllables as pa·tron.

What is the origin of the word "Patron"?

"Patron" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin patronus patron saint, patron of a benefice, pattern, from Latin, defender, from patr-, pater. First known use: 14th century.