patron

noun

ˈpā-trən How to pronounce patron (audio)
Definition of patronnext
1
as in customer
a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business a restaurant patron

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sponsor
a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing the wealthy philanthropist is one of the city's most generous patrons of its symphony orchestra

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in donor
one that helps another with gifts or money the patron for the museum's current blockbuster is the city's biggest banking institution

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of patron The man in the white shirt appears limp as fellow bar patrons walk in to check on him, and the bartender covers her mouth in apparent shock. — Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 The Vision Theatre’s reopening is expected to bring thousands of new patrons to Leimert Park, giving surrounding small businesses an opportunity to boost their bottom lines. — Lamonica Peters, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 Some of these same patrons left with more items, but free, such as toy and snack giveaways plus informational literature. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 As governments, research institutions, and privateers struggle to afford undersea excursions, a new class of patron has joined the pursuit. — Brett Berk, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patron
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patron
  1. customer
  2. sponsor
  3. donor
  4. client
  5. benefactor
  6. donator
  7. guest
Noun
  • Anthropic has seen incredible traction with enterprise customers, and there figures to be considerable overlap between the companies' customer bases.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement also did not identify prospective brand customers or say where the chip supplied to Shenghong will be produced.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of customer
Noun
  • In addition to individual sponsors, the program benefits from corporate and nonprofit donors.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • On Monday, Casey's announced a partnership with decades-old Texas high school media brand Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, becoming the new sponsor of the magazine and website's team of the week and student-athlete of the week honors.
    — Israel Schuman, Des Moines Register, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sponsor
Noun
  • Once a payment is authorized by the donor (and not made fraudulently by someone else), getting those funds back becomes even harder, Eva Velasquez, CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, told Fortune.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The National Kidney Registry launched in 2008 with an eye toward saving and improving the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed and number of living donor transplants around the globe and protecting living donors.
    — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of donor
Noun
  • The platform links brand clients with filmmakers around the world to turn advertising messages into standalone films with real narrative ambition, rather than conventional commercials.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The two economies have deepened ties, particularly as Korean chip giants have become central to the global AI boom, with Nvidia as their most important client.
    — Lisa Kim, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of client
Noun
  • The Pinell Collection focuses on African American literature and is named after a local benefactor.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • After Gretchen Whitmer, the state’s popular Democratic governor, endorsed Stevens last week, El-Sayed explained the choice as the inevitable product of the two women’s benefactors.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of benefactor
Noun
  • Contributors can transfer stock to the Treasury, which will then invest the funds into accounts in line with the donator’s guidelines.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 6 July 2026
  • That’s the gold standard of cancer designations that allows patients and donators alike to understand Sylvester’s standards.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of donator
Noun
  • Liberian authorities described the arrangement as humanitarian and said the deportees will be treated as guests who can seek asylum or leave the country.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, as much as Hal’s gut points him in the right direction, Kerry proves to be a step ahead of her Lantern guests once more (and far more tactful, too).
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of guest

Phrases Containing patron

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patrols
patron
patronage
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Cite this Entry

“Patron.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patron. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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