noun

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

  ‘a celebrated patron of the arts’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Charles became a patron of Rubens and van Dyck’
  • ‘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

  View synonyms

• 2A customer, especially a regular one, of a store, restaurant, or theater.

  ‘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

  View synonyms

• 3Roman History
  (in ancient Rome) a patrician in relation to a client.

  See also client (sense 3)

  ‘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. 3.1(in ancient Rome) the 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.’

• 5

  short for patron saint