patronage

Definition of patronagenext
1
as in sponsorship
the financial support and general guidance for an undertaking a symphony orchestra that had long relied upon the patronage of the city's moneyed old guard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in business
transactions or economic support provided by customers he refuses to give his patronage to any corporation that is not socially conscious

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 patronage For more than a century, Americans have taken pride in a professional civil service insulated from raw political patronage. James Broughel, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 Advertisement Billions of dollars that could have gone toward infrastructure, education, and public services have instead been diverted into inflated contracts, legal settlements, patronage networks, and crisis management. Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026 Princess Anne has been a reliable senior royal for many years, earning a reputation as the family's hardest-working royal, taking on patronages, royal tours, investiture ceremonies and more. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026 The partnership marks the first time M+’s moving-image initiatives will be made available to a worldwide streaming audience, a step that both deepens Chanel’s cultural-patronage footprint in Asia and expands Mubi’s curatorial ambitions across the region, the partners say. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patronage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronage
Noun
  • This cohort has too much money, too many brand sponsorships—this cohort has Instagram.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Organizers of the event, held annually for over three decades, cited a number of issues including the loss of key sponsorship support.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The new law will give the California attorney general earlier access to federal HSR merger filings, so the office will have more time to review and challenge anticompetitive mergers and give businesses earlier notice to address any potential concerns, according to Umberg’s office.
    Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
  • That sparked fears that AI tools could eat into existing companies’ business models and customer bases.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The style also has a ripstop upper with gradient underlays, Kith branding on the footbed and heel, and custom mountain artwork on the tongue.
    Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The space’s custom art was created by Amazonian artist Winny Tapajós, portraying a mischievous garden scene full of whimsical characters.
    Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Patronage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronage. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

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