Meaning & use
patronise
Last updated
To treat someone in a way that suggests they are less intelligent or important than oneself; also, to be a regular customer of a business.
See it in a sentence
He hated being patronised by colleagues who assumed he didn't understand the software.
Locals patronise the same small bakery every weekend.
A note on using this word
"Patronise" is the British spelling of "patronize"; the word carries two quite different senses depending on context, one negative and one neutral.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. verb
To be a regular customer or supporter of a business or establishment.
The family has patronised the same tailor for three generations.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “patronise”, then compare your use with the examples above.