patronage

noun

pa·​tron·​age ˈpa-trə-nij  ˈpā- 

1

: advowson

2

: the support or influence of a patron

the patronage of science by universities

3

: kindness done with an air of superiority

The prince deigned to bestow his patronage on the composer.

4

: business or activity provided by patrons

the new branch library is expected to have a heavy patronage

5

a

: the power to make appointments to government jobs especially for political advantage

… oust his enemies from office and use the patronage to support his policies …

—H. K. Beale

b

: the distribution of jobs on the basis of patronage

The governor filled the vacated positions through patronage.

c

: jobs distributed by patronage

the government's vast network of patronage

Synonyms of patronage

• sponsorship

Examples of patronage in a Sentence

The college relied on the patronage of its wealthy graduates to expand its funds.

They thanked her for her patronage of the new hospital.

The city should do more to encourage patronage of local businesses.

a system of political patronage

Recent Examples on the Web

Prince William is said to have been upset that his father recently approved a new patronage for Princess Beatrice at the Outward Bound Trust. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 25 Nov. 2025

Under his patronage, teams have uncovered nearly 300 statues of the goddess Sekhmet and erected additional colossi. —Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025

Curators showcase the tastes and morals of the scholarly elite through court art and ceremonial objects, offering a look at the ideals, aesthetics and patronage systems that shaped Korean culture. —Christy Choi, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025

The gathering brought together members of the local community, including several connected to Charles and Camilla’s patronages, such as The King’s Trust and the Royal Osteoporosis Society. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

patronage

noun

pa·​tron·​age ˈpa-trə-nij  ˈpā- 

1

: the support or influence of a patron

2

: business or activity provided by patrons

3

: the power to give out government jobs, contracts, or favors