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
Today, Thecla is the patron saint of the city of Tarragona, Spain, where the cathedral is named after her and images of Thecla decorate the altarpiece.
—
Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
The name is inspired by the Christian martyr Saint Barbara, the patron saint of artillerymen, miners, and those who work with fire or explosive materials.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
The same guy once celebrated by the likes of Bill Hancock, patron saint of all that’s good about college athletics, for championing the trusty, musty two-team field is on record this week that a 12-team playoff works so well that 16 might not be so bad after all.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
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, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patron saint
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Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
The name is inspired by the Christian martyr Saint Barbara, the patron saint of artillerymen, miners, and those who work with fire or explosive materials.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
The same guy once celebrated by the likes of Bill Hancock, patron saint of all that’s good about college athletics, for championing the trusty, musty two-team field is on record this week that a 12-team playoff works so well that 16 might not be so bad after all.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
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, 30 Dec. 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 22 Jan. 2026.
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