PATRON

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does patron mean? 

• PATRON (noun)
  The noun PATRON has 3 senses:

1. a regular customer

2. the proprietor of an inn

3. someone who supports or champions something

  Familiarity information: PATRON used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PATRON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A regular customer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

frequenter; patron

Hypernyms ("patron" is a kind of...):

client; customer (someone who pays for goods or services)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "patron"):

operagoer (a patron of the opera)

fixture; habitue; regular (a regular patron)

Derivation:

patronise (be a regular customer or client of)

patronise (do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of)

patronize (be a regular customer or client of)

patronize (do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The proprietor of an inn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("patron" is a kind of...):

owner; proprietor ((law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business)

Domain region:

France; French Republic (a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "patron"):

boniface; host; innkeeper (the owner or manager of an inn)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Someone who supports or champions something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

patron; sponsor; supporter

Hypernyms ("patron" is a kind of...):

benefactor; helper (a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "patron"):

angel; backer (invests in a theatrical production)

godfather (someone having a relation analogous to that of a male sponsor to his godchild)

godparent (a person who sponsors someone (the godchild) at baptism)

guarantor; surety; warranter; warrantor (one who provides a warrant or guarantee to another)

patroness; patronne (a woman who is a patron or the wife of a patron)

pillar of strength; tower of strength (a person who can be relied on to give a great deal of support and comfort)

Derivation:

patronise; patronize (assume sponsorship of)

 Context examples 

If you had not been the best and truest little gentleman in the world, you would have been my patron instead of my friend before now.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I told them what a fine fellow Steerforth was, and what a patron of mine, and Peggotty said she would walk a score of miles to see him.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Beginning with the White Mouse he would add magazine after magazine to his growing list of patrons.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

My faithful friend and noble patron, continued Laurie with a wave of the hand, who has so flatteringly presented me, is not to be blamed for the base stratagem of tonight.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I have heard from authority, which I thought as good, that it was left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

We had to walk two miles to Brocklebridge Church, where our patron officiated.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“May the holy Benedict, patron of our house, be present this day and aid us in our findings! How many counts are there?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

They were to go immediately to Delaford, that Edward might have some personal knowledge of his future home, and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what improvements were needed to it; and from thence, after staying there a couple of nights, he was to proceed on his journey to town.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

On the other hand, the face and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon me, and I could not think that his explanation of the fuller’s-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell anyone of my errand.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)