patron

About 5.43 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun One who protects or supports; a defender or advocate. A guardian or intercessor; synonym of patron saint.

   St. Joseph is the patron of many different places.

2. noun A guardian or intercessor; synonym of patron saint.

   St. Joseph is the patron of many different places.

3. noun An influential, wealthy person who supported an artist, craftsman, a scholar or a noble.
4. noun A customer, as of a certain store or restaurant.

   This car park is for patrons only.

5. noun A protector of a dependent, especially a master who had freed a slave but still retained some paternal rights.
6. noun One who has gift and disposition of a benefice.
7. noun A padrone.
8. noun A property owner, a landlord, a master.

Similar words

supporter attender sponsor frequenter patronne backer patronage sponsorship owner master

Often followed by

of saint and saints to in was who is

Word family

patronal patrons