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

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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

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 In 1962, Danny Thomas — the Lebanese American comedian, singer, actor, and devout Catholic — made good on a promise to the patron saint of hopeless causes with the opening of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. — Marie Mccullough, https://www.inquirer.com, "How conquering a rare leukemia in children revolutionized cancer care for millions," 6 June 2019 On Sunday morning, Prince William and Kate Middleton honored the patron saint of Ireland with their annual visit to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow, England. — Tess Kornfeld, Glamour, "Kate Middleton Looks Beyond Regal in Her Alexander McQueen St. Patrick's Day Outfit," 17 Mar. 2019 Where did this patron saint of innovation go wrong? — John F. Wasik, WSJ, "Lessons From Tesla (the Man, Not the Car)," 14 Sep. 2018 The parades in honor of Ireland’s patron saint began as religious celebrations and in the United States date back to the 1700s. — Ashley Wong, USA TODAY, "Gay Pride parades used to mean protests. Now they're an excuse for straight kids to party," 22 June 2018 Unlike Ophelia, the patron saint of moribund allure, the women who cloak themselves in these baleful blooms will not be tragic characters. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "The 7 Biggest Trends of the Fall 2019 Season," 12 Mar. 2019 Denmark has a patron saint of design and his name is Georg Jensen. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "This 100-Year-Old Copenhagen Label Has Teamed Up With the City’s Coolest Jewelry Designer," 14 Aug. 2018

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.