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When Italians began using patina in the 17th century to refer to the green film that forms on the surface of copper, they were drawing on Latin, in which patina means "a shallow dish." (Presumably, the Italian meaning developed from the observation of such film forming on copper dishes.) By the mid-18th century, English speakers were also calling the green film patina, and by the 20th century, they'd expanded the word's application to surface appearances of things that have grown more beautiful with age or use—think of an old wooden desk or a tarnished silver goblet. Use of the word to refer to thin layers both literal and figurative ("a patina of grime," "a patina of respectability") followed soon after.
Examples of patina in a Sentence
Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
While this may be viewed as an inconvenience in comparison to an eternally waterproof technical fabric, the patina that develops as the wax shifts is viewed as a feature unto itself.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2025
Their desirability is based on factors such as their age, patina, length, thickness, and smoothness.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Pictures of the artifacts show they were intricately carved, and still with signs of patina.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patina
Cite this Entry
“Patina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patina. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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