# Patrick

/ˈpætɹɪk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/patrick
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man or boy.

For teachers: a masculine given name, derived from the Latin 'Patricius', meaning 'nobleman'.

- My friend Patrick is coming over to help me move house this weekend.
- Patrick was a popular name in the mid-twentieth century, though its frequency has fluctuated across different English-speaking regions over the decades.

### 2. Saint Patrick

noun · CEFR A2

the patron saint of Ireland, celebrated on March 17th.

For teachers: the primary patron saint of Ireland, a fifth-century missionary and bishop.

- Many cities hold large parades to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day in March.
- Historical accounts of Saint Patrick often blend hagiography with fact, making it difficult to verify the specific details of his early missionary work.

## Examples

- My friend Patrick is coming to the party tonight.
- The office manager, Patrick, is responsible for organizing the annual holiday dinner for the entire staff.
- While the name Patrick has deep historical roots in Roman nobility, it is most famously associated with the fifth-century missionary who became the primary patron saint of Ireland.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.