patron Hear it!

patron definition

pa·tron (trən)

noun

  1. a person empowered with the granting of an English church benefice
  2. patron saint
  3. a person corresponding in some respects to a father; protector; benefactor
  4. a person, usually a wealthy and influential one, who sponsors and supports some person, activity, institution, etc. the patrons of the orchestra
  5. a regular customer, as of a store
  6. in ancient Rome, a person who had freed a slave but still retained a certain paternal control over the slave

Etymology: ME patroun < OFr patrun, patron < ML & L: ML(Ec) patronus, patron saint, patron < L, a protector, defender < pater, father

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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