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
Relevance
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
At a time when political machines dominated state and city politics, Cleveland challenged patronage and favoritism.
—
Jacob Lane The Chicago Tribune, Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Religious and patronage loyalties run deep in rural areas in particular, since the Islamic Republic brought basic services to Iran’s countryside and small towns.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Some rightfully argue that art has a few thousand more years of history, connoisseurship, and patronage, but there’s no question that cars have a hold on the imaginations and purse strings of would-be modern Medicis.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
In practice, they are enmeshed in the same web of patronage and coercion as the rest of the system.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronage
Jacob Lane The Chicago Tribune, Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Religious and patronage loyalties run deep in rural areas in particular, since the Islamic Republic brought basic services to Iran’s countryside and small towns.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Some rightfully argue that art has a few thousand more years of history, connoisseurship, and patronage, but there’s no question that cars have a hold on the imaginations and purse strings of would-be modern Medicis.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
In practice, they are enmeshed in the same web of patronage and coercion as the rest of the system.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patronage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patronage
Noun
-
Jordan Bush, the founder of Thank God for Bitcoin, says the organization has turned down several offers to promote certain crypto projects and sponsorships.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
-
For decades after the war, Germany’s attempts to atone for that history through a deep commitment to pacifism obliged defense companies to keep a low profile, avoiding sponsorships and splashy ad campaigns.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Within days, China’s surprise intervention in the deal quickly shattered that hope, as Beijing stepped up efforts to discourage Chinese AI founders from moving their businesses offshore.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Chalker’s strategy for clearing his reputation—which had been the foundation of his lucrative business—was unexpected, to say the least.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
This is a common Turkish and Middle Eastern custom and often includes hummus, pita and salads.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patronage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patronage. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
