patron

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. a person or group that gives money and support to artists, charities, or museums.

n. a person who provides financial or influential support to an individual, organization, or cause.

“She is a well-known patron of the arts and has donated many paintings.”

“Without the generous support of its royal patrons, the national gallery would have struggled to acquire such a significant collection of Renaissance masterpieces.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion

n. a saint who is believed to protect a particular place or group of people.

n. a saint regarded as the special guardian of a person, group, trade, or country.

“Saint Christopher is known as the patron saint of travellers.”

“The village holds a festival every June to honour their patron saint and pray for a successful harvest.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical · Formal

n. in ancient Rome, a powerful person who protected and helped a poorer person.

n. a protector of a dependent or client in the ancient Roman social system, often a former master of a freed slave.

“In ancient Rome, a patron would provide legal help to his clients.”

“The relationship between patron and client was a fundamental pillar of Roman social and political life, involving mutual obligations of loyalty and support.”