patronize

verb pa·tron·ize \ ˈpā-trə-ˌnīz , ˈpa- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: patronize in a Sentence

Editor's Note: What Does patronize Mean?

Definition of patronize

patronized; patronizing

transitive verb

1 : to act as patron of : provide aid or support for

The government patronized several local artists.

2 : to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly

3 : to be a frequent or regular customer or client of

a restaurant much patronized by celebrities

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patronization

play \ˌpā-trə-nə-ˈzā-shən, ˌpa-\ noun

—

patronizingly

play \ˈpā-trə-ˌnī-ziŋ-lē, ˈpa-\ adverb

See patronize defined for English-language learners

See patronize defined for kids

Examples of patronize in a Sentence

For the court to come around, at this late date, to acknowledging our existence as "free persons" is shockingly patronizing; it's condescension that has been cast as liberation. —John Cloud, Time, 7 July 2003
She spoke dryly, but she had to admit that the girl did not mean to patronize, and was pleasant, the way she talked right to Stephen instead of across him the way most people did. —Ursula K. Le Guin, New Yorker, 28 Sept. 1987
My feelings seem to have been confused and blurred, tinged with sentimentality, colored by a great deal of folklore, and wobbling always between a patronizing affection, fostered by my elders, and downright hostility. —William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (l953) 1982
The family patronizes the arts.
He hated being patronized and pitied by those who didn't believe his story.
“I'm sure you did your best even though you failed.” “Please don't patronize.”
I patronize the library regularly.

Recent Examples of patronize from the Web

Consumer Beverage Find out more about Consumer Beverage, one of Hales Corners’ historic and most patronized businesses, during a special program Wednesday, April 4, at the Hales Corners Library.

— bob dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "More than 2,000 bikes will be for sale at Wheel & Sprocket's Bike Expo Sale in West Allis," 2 Apr. 2018
Elsewhere along the coastal strip that spans Tijuana and Rosarito Beach, Thomas Markle has patronized a taco shop, purchased beer, and ordered a take-out sandwich at a local café.

— sandra dibble, latimes.com, "Meghan Markle's father lives in a quiet Baja town; but the British paparazzi have come knocking," 1 Apr. 2018
My goal is not to characterize, demonize, patronize, or glorify anybody.

— National Geographic, "War in Syria: Stories of Survival and Hope," 31 Mar. 2018
One co-owner of a San Francisco Bay Area barbershop patronized by some Google employees was a little creeped out by the privacy implications.

— matt o'brien, The Christian Science Monitor, "Humanlike Google voice makes a hair appointment. Should we be concerned?," 10 May 2018
As for actual concessions at the mini-golf course, Baylinson said the developers intentionally decided not to offer any soda, ice cream or snacks, to encourage its customers to patronize Margate businesses nearby.

— Philly.com, "In Margate, 'The great mini-golf war is settled.'," 30 Apr. 2018
Recently, rwo black shoppers patronizing a Washington-state clothing store discovered what happens when a white woman is disgusted by the presence of Negroes who have the audacity to try to spend money at a place of business.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Manager Loudly Reads Store’s Theft Policy to Black Customers, Calls Security When Asked Why," 10 May 2018
City officials and Ogden executives say Element 84 will help draw more people to West Allis who will patronize the city's stores, restaurants and other businesses.

— tom daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Long-delayed upscale West Allis apartment development to begin construction in June," 9 May 2018
Visitors who want to get a real taste of Pinecraftiness should patronize one of the traditional restaurants.

— vincent crampton, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Sarasota County: Say bye bye, Ohio for pie pie, Pinecraft," 6 May 2018

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

What Does patronize Mean?

The various meanings of patronize can easily be distinguished if you consider which sense of patron they allude to. Patronize in the sense “to provide aid or support for” refers to the sort of patron who gives money or assistance. Such a person might, for example, patronize the arts. A second sense of patronize involves the kind of patron who is “a frequent or regular customer” of a business – someone, for example, who patronizes a store. A third use of patronize carries a distinctively negative meaning: “to adopt an air of condescension toward.” This sense presumably developed from the idea of a wealthy and powerful patron who adopts a superior attitude towards his (or her) dependent. Nowadays, someone who patronizes (or whose behavior is patronizing) in this sense more often expresses a sense of moral or intellectual than of social superiority.

What Is the Difference Between condescending and patronizing?

Very few words in English have exactly the same meaning; even words which appear to be entirely synonymous often will be found to have small differences in certain contexts. The words condescending and patronizing present a fine example of this. At first glance these words appear to be defined somewhat circularly: condescending often has the word "patronizing" in its definition, and patronize is defined, in part, as “to adopt an air of condescension toward.”

But both of these words have specialized senses that lend a shade of meaning to their synonymous senses. Patronizing can mean "giving support to" or "being a customer of," suggesting that the "condescending" sense implies superiority gained through a donor-dependent relationship.

The verb condescend used to be free of any hint of the offensive superiority it usually suggests today. It could mean literally "to go or come down" or, figuratively, "to willingly lower oneself to another’s level," senses that are still occasionally encountered in writings on the Bible. The idea of self-consciously lowering oneself is implied in the "patronizing" sense of condescending.

Origin and Etymology of patronize

see patron

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1589

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

patronize Synonyms

Phrases

go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for;

PATRONIZE Defined for English Language Learners

patronize

verb

Definition of patronize for English Language Learners

: to give money or support to (someone or something)
: to talk to (someone) in a way that shows that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people
: to be a frequent or regular customer or user of (a place)