patronize

verb

pa·​tron·​ize ˈpā-trə-ˌnīz  ˈpa- 

patronized; patronizing

transitive verb

1

: to act as patron of : provide aid or support for

The government patronized several local artists.

2

: to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly

3

: to be a frequent or regular customer or client of

a restaurant much patronized by celebrities

patronization

ˌpā-trə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌpa-

noun

Did you know?

What Does patronize Mean?

The various meanings of patronize can easily be distinguished if you consider which sense of patron they allude to. Patronize in the sense “to provide aid or support for” refers to the sort of patron who gives money or assistance. Such a person might, for example, patronize the arts. A second sense of patronize involves the kind of patron who is “a frequent or regular customer” of a business – someone, for example, who patronizes a store. A third use of patronize carries a distinctively negative meaning: “to adopt an air of condescension toward.” This sense presumably developed from the idea of a wealthy and powerful patron who adopts a superior attitude towards his (or her) dependent. Nowadays, someone who patronizes (or whose behavior is patronizing) in this sense more often expresses a sense of moral or intellectual than of social superiority.

Did you know?

What is the difference between condescending and patronizing?

Very few words in English have exactly the same meaning; even words which appear to be entirely synonymous often will be found to have small differences in certain contexts. The words condescending and patronizing present a fine example of this. At first glance these words appear to be defined somewhat circularly: condescending often has the word "patronizing" in its definition, and patronize is defined, in part, as “to adopt an air of condescension toward.”

But both of these words have specialized senses that lend a shade of meaning to their synonymous senses. Patronizing can mean "giving support to" or "being a customer of," suggesting that the "condescending" sense implies superiority gained through a donor-dependent relationship.

The verb condescend used to be free of any hint of the offensive superiority it usually suggests today. It could mean literally "to go or come down" or, figuratively, "to willingly lower oneself to another’s level," senses that are still occasionally encountered in writings on the Bible. The idea of self-consciously lowering oneself is implied in the "patronizing" sense of condescending.

Synonyms

• condescend
• lord (it over)
• talk down (to)

Examples of patronize in a Sentence

For the court to come around, at this late date, to acknowledging our existence as "free persons" is shockingly patronizing; it's condescension that has been cast as liberation. —John Cloud, Time, 7 July 2003

She spoke dryly, but she had to admit that the girl did not mean to patronize, and was pleasant, the way she talked right to Stephen instead of across him the way most people did. —Ursula K. Le Guin, New Yorker, 28 Sept. 1987

My feelings seem to have been confused and blurred, tinged with sentimentality, colored by a great deal of folklore, and wobbling always between a patronizing affection, fostered by my elders, and downright hostility. —William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982

The family patronizes the arts.

He hated being patronized and pitied by those who didn't believe his story.

“I'm sure you did your best even though you failed.” “Please don't patronize.”

I patronize the library regularly.

Recent Examples on the Web

In interviews, female patients said they felt patronized or trivialized by male health care providers at some point in their TMJ treatment, if not throughout. —Anna Werner, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024

Some folks struggle to accept help, prefer to keep finances private, or feel patronized by advice. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 26 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see patron

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

patronize

verb

pa·​tron·​ize ˈpā-trə-ˌnīz  ˈpa- 

patronized; patronizing

1

: to act as a patron to or of : give aid or support to

patronize the arts

2

: to act as if one were better than

3

: to be a patron of

patronize a store

patronize the library

patronizingly

-ˌnī-ziŋ-lē 

adverb