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
After her death she was canonized by the Catholic Church and recognized as the patron saint of immigrants.
—
Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Named for Honoratus of Amiens, the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs, the Saint-Honoré is French pâtisserie at its most theatrical.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
Along with the saints found on El Mencho’s altar, another saint embraced in narco culture is the Santo Niño of Atocha, a childlike Christ figure known as the patron saint of prisoners and those in danger, said Robert Almonte, a law enforcement trainer and consultant in San Antonio, Texas.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Spanish towns and cities also regularly honor local patron saints with fiestas.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patron saint
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Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Named for Honoratus of Amiens, the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs, the Saint-Honoré is French pâtisserie at its most theatrical.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
Along with the saints found on El Mencho’s altar, another saint embraced in narco culture is the Santo Niño of Atocha, a childlike Christ figure known as the patron saint of prisoners and those in danger, said Robert Almonte, a law enforcement trainer and consultant in San Antonio, Texas.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Spanish towns and cities also regularly honor local patron saints with fiestas.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
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 17 Jun. 2026.
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