noun

• 1A person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause.

  ‘a celebrated patron of the arts’

  More example sentences

  • ‘But the festival enjoys great support from some 20 local organisations, friends, patrons and the district council.’
  • ‘These achievements should be shared with our sponsors, patrons and supporters.’
  • ‘The organisers are deeply grateful for the support of patrons over the past months.’
  • ‘Happy New Year to all our patrons and supporters.’
  • ‘The committee thanks their patrons for their support.’
  • ‘The committee would like to thank their patrons without whose support the cost of publishing the annual magazine would be prohibitive.’
  • ‘Support from patrons and parents would be greatly appreciated.’
  • ‘Sincere thanks to the patrons who so generously supported the draw.’
  • ‘We would like to thank all our patrons for supporting us.’
  • ‘The club is deeply grateful for the ongoing support of its patrons.’
  • ‘Thanks to all the loyal patrons who have supported fund-raising ventures over the years.’
  • ‘Sincere thanks to the organising committee, patrons and friends who gave prizes.’
  • ‘The club deeply appreciates the ongoing support of its patrons and the community.’
  • ‘Many thanks is extended to the loyal patrons who support the committee every week.’
  • ‘This would not have been possible without the continued support of all our patrons.’
  • ‘He also thanked the press and all their patrons and sponsors, without whose financial support, the show would not go on.’
  • ‘The patrons chose whom to support and greatly influenced the products of that support.’
  • ‘What is needed is a patron who understands and supports the substance of the projects and the one-time opportunity they represent.’
  • ‘It was a solemn farewell to a great patron of the arts and a doughty supporter of Scottish causes.’
  • ‘What kinds of promotion do performance arts patrons appreciate most?’

  Synonyms

  sponsor, backer, financier, subsidizer, underwriter, guarantor, benefactor, benefactress, contributor, subscriber, donor

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  1. 1.1A distinguished person who takes an honorary position in a charity.
     ‘the Mental Health Foundation, of which Her Royal Highness is Patron’
     More example sentences

     • ‘The countess, who is is the official patron of the charity's 18th birthday, joined Esther on a visit to its Yorkshire and North East headquarters in Leeds yesterday.’
     • ‘As patron of the charity Age Concern, he attended the launch of its Business Pledge campaign to encourage employers to recruit the over-50s.’
     • ‘Princess Anne is the patron of the national charity and will address more than 1,200 delegates at the University of York's Central Hall.’
     • ‘What's the point of being a patron of the charity if you don't come to an event like this?’
     • ‘He is president of the Asthma Campaign and he is also a patron of the Christian charity Mercy Ships and speaks at major fundraising events.’
     • ‘Two years ago the Scoliosis Association approached him to become a patron of the charity, and floated the idea for this exhibition.’
     • ‘Marjorie, who is currently looking for a suitable patron for the charity, has said that setting up the charity helped to ease her grief.’
     • ‘She was a patron of many Scottish charities to which she wholeheartedly gave her support.’
     • ‘There are countless charities that want patrons, there are hospices, hospitals and schools that need to be visited, events that have to be opened and projects that need to be endorsed.’
     • ‘The 30-year-old 400-metre runner from Thornton Heath is patron of the charity and hopes more people will get involved.’
     • ‘He is patron of the charity, set up in memory of an Evesham schoolgirl.’
     • ‘The 57-year-old is the main fundraiser and patron of the charity which helps vulnerable people and victims of crime.’
     • ‘The 39-year-old is patron of the charity which funds pioneering research to improve the lives of babies and children.’
     • ‘The prime minister's wife is patron of the charity.’
     • ‘She is patron of 14 charities and is expected to take on more official work over the coming months.’
     • ‘It says he carries out 500 engagements each year and is patron of 350 charities.’
     • ‘I managed to beat him out for the position of head patron at age sixteen.’
     • ‘The Queen is patron of the charity that organises the event and the Home Office pays £500,000 a year to fund it.’
     • ‘Mary, an active patron of many children's charities, also helped launch a new foundation aimed at teaching third world youngsters to read and write.’
     • ‘Perhaps your good wife the lovely Lady would consider being our patron?’
     Synonyms

     benefactor, benefactress, humanitarian, patron, patroness, donor, contributor, giver, sponsor, backer, helper, altruist, good Samaritan

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• 2A customer of a shop, restaurant, etc., especially a regular one.

  ‘we surveyed the plushness of the hotel and its sleek, well-dressed patrons’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Most of his customers are regular patrons, many of whom are foreigners.’
  • ‘The aim was to make the area more attractive to business and more welcoming to regular patrons and visitors.’
  • ‘These customers will most likely turn into regular patrons.’
  • ‘Half of the restaurant's patrons are also hotel guests, while the remainder come off the street.’
  • ‘Taking a discreet glance around, he saw the few other patrons of the restaurant heartily consuming their own lunch, so he tried to follow suit.’
  • ‘The restaurant seats 155 patrons and employs a staff of 18 chefs.’
  • ‘Are the fellow employees or regular patrons off limits to me?’
  • ‘Their dinner was marked by loud hysterics, which earned them more than one unfriendly stare from the older patrons of the restaurant.’
  • ‘Police forced restaurant patrons to leave immediately.’
  • ‘Postal patrons also must complete customs forms and declarations pertaining to the contents of parcels being mailed.’
  • ‘He noticed the curious stares of the regular patrons of the inn.’
  • ‘Someone called the local press, and the dining patrons emptied from the restaurant to watch the rescue attempt.’
  • ‘He teams up with retail shops that refer patrons to the parties and he brings in winemakers to conduct the tastings.’
  • ‘She returned the embrace gratefully, not caring about any of the other restaurant patrons.’
  • ‘Of course, restaurant patrons could go elsewhere, though they should not have to.’
  • ‘He glanced around the room and took notice of the other patrons in the shop.’
  • ‘They do not enter into the dinner conversations of restaurant patrons.’
  • ‘However, such an explanation does not account for the evidence that there were few patrons in the shop.’
  • ‘Isn't it embarrassing to be in a restaurant where a patron is yelling at the waiter?’
  • ‘The waiting area has a fully licensed bar with a drinks lounge for up to 20 patrons and a restaurant area for 16.’

  Synonyms

  customer, client, frequenter

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• 3Roman History
  A patrician in relation to a client.

  ‘They are the most obvious sign that hospitality helped to articulate the patron/client relations that permeated Roman society.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘A typical patrician noble, he saw his world in terms of personal ambition, Roman patriotism, family loyalty, and patron-client relationships.’
  • ‘In ancient Rome clients were plebeians who were bound in a subservient relationship with their patrician patron.’

  1. 3.1The former owner and (frequently) protector of a freed slave.
     ‘Sometimes the new feudal lord was welcomed as a patron and protector.’
     More example sentences

     • ‘He needed a patron to protect his new found freedom and often looked to his former master to champion him.’

• 4British historical A person or institution with the right to grant a benefice to a member of the clergy.

  More example sentences

  • ‘Here those favoring the wealthy are following social convention and may even see themselves securing the benefaction of the patron for the church.’