patronage

noun

pa·​tron·​age ˈpa-trə-nij How to pronounce patronage (audio) ˈpā- How to pronounce patronage (audio)
1
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 policiesH. 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

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
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.
After a brief return to local control in the 1930s, the state reasserted authority over Kansas City police to weaken political boss Tom Pendergast, who had used the department for patronage and election fraud. Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 27 Feb. 2025 Madigan’s vaunted 13th Ward political operation was one of the last vestiges of the old Democratic machine at work, a system that rewarded loyal campaign workers with patronage jobs and focused on constituent services and old-fashioned door-knocking to drum up support. Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 The big picture: The memo is just the latest step in the White House's unprecedented move to push career federal workers out of their jobs, and, observers say, replace them with loyalists — a return to a patronage system that federal law sought to banish more than a century ago. Marc Caputo, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025 Art critic Eva Diaz, writing for ArtReview, says that Of the ‘creative’ pursuits, architecture is among the most dependent on big piles of capital in order to get its work off the ground: patronage is a constitutive yoke of the profession. Matt Shaw, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for patronage

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of patronage was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Patronage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patronage. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

patronage

noun
pa·​tron·​age ˈpa-trə-nij How to pronounce patronage (audio) ˈpā- How to pronounce patronage (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on patronage

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