From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpatronpa‧tron /ˈpeɪtrən/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLANsomeone who supports the activities of an organization, for example by giving money a wealthy patronpatron of a patron of the arts2 a famous person who is officially involved with an organization, such as a charity, and whose name is used to help advertise it → patroness3 formalDB someone who uses a particular shop, restaurant, or hotel SYN customer facilities for disabled patrons► see thesaurus at customer
Examples from the Corpus
patron• Santa Anita estimates it loses 200 to 400 patrons daily when Fairplex carries the races.• Also patron of dyers, knife sharpeners, swordsmiths, and weavers; he is invoked against gout.• Each noble's home has its own character reflecting the interests and magical researches of its patrons.• His career epitomizes the interactions between the obligations of patron and client and the public service under the old administrative system.• She's patron of the Butler Trust, a charity which rewards positive prison work.• Many artists were dependent on wealthy patrons.patron of• The Caliph was a great patron of astronomy and science.From Longman Business Dictionarypatronpa‧tron /ˈpeɪtrən/ noun [countable]1formal someone who regularly uses a particular shop, restaurant, hotel etcSYNCUSTOMERRegular patrons comprise 65 percent of the restaurant’s customers.2someone who supports the activities of a public organization, CHARITY etc, especially by giving moneySYNBENEFACTORIt has been left to a small group of art historians, patrons and restorers to do something about the lost art treasures.Origin patron (1300-1400) Medieval Latin patronus, from Latin pater “father” 