patron saint
noun
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
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
That evening, the church was packed with people who had come from all corners of the Orthodox world for the annual Feast of Saint Andrew, the Phanar’s patron saint.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Many small towns and villages celebrate their patron saints or local products with events that attract both residents and visitors curious to experience the Amalfi Coast like a local.
—Sara Magro, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
The timing of the news was thoughtful as March 1 is St. David’s Day, the feast day celebrating Wales' patron saint.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
The day is also often referred to as St. Brigid’s Day, referring to the Celtic goddess Brigantia, as well as Ireland’s patron saint, also a Christian saint, Brigid of Kildare.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 29 Jan. 2024
Francesca Moretti, Bellavista’s winemaker, explains that each year on December 7, the feast day of Milan’s patron saint, Sant’Ambrogio, the new season opens at Teatro alla Scala with a premiere.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 29 Dec. 2023
According to legend, the Sisters of Loretto prayed a nine-day novena to St. Joseph, patron saint of Carpenters, for help building a staircase to the choir loft.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Mar. 2024
The mid-century theorist of decolonization has long been the patron saint of political violence.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
On Friday, the Prince of Wales, 41, visited Ysgol Yr Holl Saint/All Saint's School in Wrexham on the feast day for the country’s patron saint.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Many small towns and villages celebrate their patron saints or local products with events that attract both residents and visitors curious to experience the Amalfi Coast like a local.
—Sara Magro, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
The timing of the news was thoughtful as March 1 is St. David’s Day, the feast day celebrating Wales' patron saint.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
The day is also often referred to as St. Brigid’s Day, referring to the Celtic goddess Brigantia, as well as Ireland’s patron saint, also a Christian saint, Brigid of Kildare.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 29 Jan. 2024
Francesca Moretti, Bellavista’s winemaker, explains that each year on December 7, the feast day of Milan’s patron saint, Sant’Ambrogio, the new season opens at Teatro alla Scala with a premiere.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 29 Dec. 2023
According to legend, the Sisters of Loretto prayed a nine-day novena to St. Joseph, patron saint of Carpenters, for help building a staircase to the choir loft.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Mar. 2024
The mid-century theorist of decolonization has long been the patron saint of political violence.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
On Friday, the Prince of Wales, 41, visited Ysgol Yr Holl Saint/All Saint's School in Wrexham on the feast day for the country’s patron saint.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patron saint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near patron saint
Cite this Entry
“Patron saint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patron%20saint. Accessed 5 May. 2024.
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