Definition

1. Noun:

   • The support, encouragement, or financial aid given by a patron: "Patronage" refers to the support, often financial, provided by a person or organization to an artist, institution, or cause.
   • The regular business or clientele of a commercial establishment: It can mean the collective customers of a store, restaurant, or service.
   • (Politics) The power to appoint people to government jobs or grant other favors, often as a reward for political support: In a political context, it refers to a system of granting favors, contracts, or appointments.
   • A condescending manner or attitude: It can describe an attitude that implies superiority when dealing with others.

2. Verb:

   • To support or be a regular customer of: To act as a patron for a business, artist, or organization.
   • To treat with an air of condescension: To behave in a way that shows you consider yourself superior to someone.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The museum relies on the patronage of wealthy donors to fund new exhibitions.
  • The café's patronage has increased since they started serving breakfast.
  • The senator was accused of using political patronage to reward his campaign workers.
  • I resent the patronage in his tone when he explains simple things.

• Verb:

  • We make a point to patronage local bookshops instead of large chains.
  • She felt he was patronaging her by over-explaining the basic concept.

Advanced Usage

• "Under the patronage of": Supported or sponsored by a particular person or group.

  • The concert was held under the patronage of the cultural minister.

• "System of patronage": Refers to the established practice, especially in politics or the arts, of granting favors or support.

  • The old system of patronage in the arts has been largely replaced by public grants.

Variants and Related Words

• Patron (n): A person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause.

  • She is a patron of the arts.

• Patronize (v): Has two distinct meanings: 1) To be a customer of a business regularly. 2) To treat someone with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority.

  • We patronize that café every weekend. (Meaning 1)
  • Don't patronize me; I understand the problem perfectly. (Meaning 2)

• Patronizing (adj): Having a condescending manner.

  • His patronizing smile made her feel incompetent.

Synonyms

• Noun (Support): Sponsorship, backing, funding, promotion.
• Noun (Clientele): Trade, business, customers, clientele.
• Noun (Condescension): Condescension, disdain, superiority.
• Verb (Support): Support, frequent, shop at, sponsor.
• Verb (Condescend): Condescend, talk down to, look down on.

Related Phrases

• Political patronage: The practice of granting favors, contracts, or appointments to individuals or groups in exchange for political support.
  • The reform aimed to eliminate corruption rooted in political patronage.

Related Idioms

• "Dispense patronage": To give out jobs or favors, especially in a political context.
  • As the new mayor, he began to dispense patronage to his loyal supporters.

Noun

1. the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers
   • even before noon there was a considerable patronage
2. (politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
3. a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient
4. customers collectively
   • they have an upper class clientele
5. the act of providing approval and support
   • his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives

Verb

1. be a regular customer or client of
   • We patronize this store
   • Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could
2. support by being a patron of