patron saint
noun
1
: a saint to whose protection and intercession a person, a society, a church, or a place is dedicated
2
: an original leader or prime exemplar
Examples of patron saint in a Sentence
St. David is the patron saint of Wales.
St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
The success of her books has made her the patron saint of a new literary movement.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan believes that canonizing Kirk as the patron saint of MAGA may have backfired in a subtle but important way.
—
Ryan Broderick, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The fourth century’s Cassian of Imola—patron saint of shorthand writers and court reporters, and apparently a strict teacher—was so irritating that a judge condemned him to be tortured to death by his own students, who stabbed him with their styli and school supplies.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Clara and Riley — with their big hearts and weak armor, untempered by irony, vulnerable to the catastrophes of disillusionment — might as well be our patron saints.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Dedicated to Dom Bosco, the patron saint of Brasília, the church is one of the city’s most significant spiritual sites.
—Greyson Ferguson, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patron saint
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Ryan Broderick, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The fourth century’s Cassian of Imola—patron saint of shorthand writers and court reporters, and apparently a strict teacher—was so irritating that a judge condemned him to be tortured to death by his own students, who stabbed him with their styli and school supplies.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Clara and Riley — with their big hearts and weak armor, untempered by irony, vulnerable to the catastrophes of disillusionment — might as well be our patron saints.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Dedicated to Dom Bosco, the patron saint of Brasília, the church is one of the city’s most significant spiritual sites.
—Greyson Ferguson, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patron saint
Cite this Entry
“Patron saint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patron%20saint. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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