patron saint

noun

Definition of patron saint

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

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about patron saint

Keep scrolling for more

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

Ancient Sparta’s influence is all around us, providing a litany of patron saints for spectacular last stands. — Myke Cole, The New Republic, "The Sparta Fetish Is a Cultural Cancer," 1 Aug. 2019 Children grow up making them and firing them off to celebrate festivals that honor patron saints. — Frank Shyong, latimes.com, "An appreciation of the pyrotechnic anarchy of Fourth of July in Los Angeles," 1 July 2019 Hollywood ran scared and Tate, who was eight months pregnant when she was stabbed 16 times by followers of Charles Manson, became a patron saint to the inexpressible. — Los Angeles Times, "How Sharon Tate transfixed Hollywood, 50 years before ‘Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood’," 25 July 2019 New name and decor Longtime executive chef Ramon Rice came up with the concept and the name, which pays homage to the patron saint of winemakers, brewers, distillers and bartenders. — Georgann Yara, azcentral, "12-year-old D’Vine Bistro in Chandler is now St. Amand Kitchen & Cocktails. Here's what to expect when you go," 17 July 2019 There’s even a patron saint of fireworks makers, San Juan de Dios, who was canonized for saving patients from a burning hospital. — Frank Shyong, latimes.com, "An appreciation of the pyrotechnic anarchy of Fourth of July in Los Angeles," 1 July 2019 More than 225,000 European immigrants and enslaved Africans spent time at the medical way station, dubbed the Lazaretto after St. Lazarus of Bethany, the patron saint of lepers, and a similar quarantine station in Venice. — Inga Saffron, https://www.inquirer.com, "This building on the Delaware River saved immigrant lives for 95 years. Now it’s been rescued by Tinicum Twp. | Inga Saffron," 4 June 2019 The Little Landers named San Ysidro after Saint Isidore of Spain, the Catholic patron saint of farmers. — Martina Schimitschek, San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Ysidro/Otay Mesa: A sense of history and community pride," 30 June 2019 On May 24 the pilgrims honor their patron saint, Sara, by carrying a statue of her from the church to the sea. — Kimberley Lovato, National Geographic, "Take a road trip through this wild, beautiful French delta," 28 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patron saint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.