patrons

Patron is a term with multiple related meanings. It can refer to a person or organization that provides support, usually financial, to individuals, institutions, or causes. It can also describe a customer or client who regularly uses the services of a business or venue.

The word derives from Latin patronus, protector or defender, from pater father; over time patronage implied a formal relationship in which a patron offered protection or resources in return for loyalty, influence, or service.

In the arts and humanities, patrons fund artists, museums, theaters, and universities. Historical patrons such as the Medici family supported artistic production and cultural preservation; in modern contexts, foundations, corporate sponsors, and individual donors continue to enable commissions, exhibitions, and research.

Religious contexts: In Christianity and other traditions, a patron saint serves as a guardian for a place, group, or activity; cities, churches, and guilds occasionally designate patron saints.

In commerce and service, patrons are customers who furnish repeated business, and patronage refers to the level or pattern of such support. Patronage can be essential to the viability of small venues and nonprofit organizations, but may also raise concerns about favoritism or unequal influence in public and private institutions.

See also patronage, sponsorship, patron saint.