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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
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Their warmth and natural patina add charm and character to any room.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 9 Feb. 2026
This technique is faster than hand cleaning but may cause pitting and remove the more desirable tarnish called patina, Martha says.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
The film’s vintage patina doesn’t detract from rising actor Will Price’s confident performance as an immature mobster who prefers bitcoin to stacks of Benjamins.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Patina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patina. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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