VOOZH about

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/patronage

⇱ patronage - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

patronage

Listen:
UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpætrənɪdʒ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈpeɪtrənɪdʒ, ˈpæ-/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(pā′trə nij, pa′-)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pa•tron•age /ˈpeɪtrənɪdʒ, ˈpæ-/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. the financial support or business provided to a store, hotel, etc., by customers or paying guests:The management thanks you for your patronage.
  2. Government
    • the power of public officials to appoint their supporters, etc., to government jobs or to grant them favors.
    • the jobs or favors so given.
  3. the support a patron gives to an artist, a charity, etc.
See -patr-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pa•tron•age  (pā′trə nij, pa′-),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. the financial support or business provided to a store, hotel, or the like, by customers, clients, or paying guests.
  2. patrons collectively;
    clientele.
  3. Governmentthe control of or power to make appointments to government jobs or the power to grant other political favors.
  4. Governmentoffices, jobs, or other favors so controlled.
  5. Governmentthe distribution of jobs and favors on a political basis, as to those who have supported one's party or political campaign.
  6. a condescending manner or attitude in granting favors, in dealing with people, etc.;
    condescension:an air of patronage toward his business subordinates.
  7. the position, encouragement, influence, or support of a patron, as toward an artist, institution, etc.
  8. the right of presentation to an ecclesiastical benefice;
    advowson.
  • Middle French; see patron, -age
  • Middle English 1350–1400
    1. . custom, commerce, trade.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
patronage /ˈpætrənɪdʒ/ n
    • the support given or custom brought by a patron or patroness
    • the position of a patron
  2. (in politics)
    • the practice of making appointments to office, granting contracts, etc
    • the favours so distributed
    • a condescending manner
    • any kindness done in a condescending way
'patronage' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: the customers' continued patronage, generous patronage from local [businesses, shops], patronage and support, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "patronage" in the title:


Look up "patronage" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "patronage" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!
Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.
Firefox users: use search shortcuts for the fastest search of WordReference.
Copyright © 2026 WordReference.com
Please report any problems.