Meaning & use
patronage
Financial or other support given to a person, artist, or organization, especially by a wealthy or powerful backer.
See it in a sentence
The composer relied on royal patronage to fund his music throughout his career.
Critics accused the mayor of using patronage to reward political allies with city jobs.
A note on using this word
In politics, "patronage" often refers to appointing supporters to positions or contracts rather than choosing on merit alone.
Words with a similar meaning
sponsorshipsupport
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
Regular custom given to a business by its customers.
The small bookshop survived for decades thanks to the loyal patronage of local readers.
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