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Definition of patronage - 4 dictionary results

pa⋅tron⋅age

  [pey-truh-nij, pa‑]
Use patronage in a Sentence
–noun
1. the financial support or business provided to a store, hotel, or the like, by customers, clients, or paying guests.
2. patrons collectively; clientele.
3. the control of or power to make appointments to government jobs or the power to grant other political favors.
4. offices, jobs, or other favors so controlled.
5. the distribution of jobs and favors on a political basis, as to those who have supported one's party or political campaign.
6. a condescending manner or attitude in granting favors, in dealing with people, etc.; condescension: an air of patronage toward his business subordinates.
7. the position, encouragement, influence, or support of a patron, as toward an artist, institution, etc.
8. the right of presentation to an ecclesiastical benefice; advowson.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < MF; see patron, -age

Synonyms:
1. custom, commerce, trade.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pa·tron·age   (pā'trə-nĭj, pāt'rə-)   
n.  

  1. The support or encouragement of a patron, as for an institution or cause.

  2. Support or encouragement proffered in a condescending manner: Our little establishment has finally been deemed worthy of the bank's patronage.

  3. The trade given to a commercial establishment by its customers: Shopkeepers thanked Christmas shoppers for their patronage.

  4. Customers or patrons considered as a group; clientele: The grand old hotel has a loyal but demanding patronage.

    1. The power to distribute or appoint people to governmental or political positions.

    2. The act of distributing or appointing people to such positions.

    3. The positions so distributed or filled.

  6. The right to grant an ecclesiastical benefice to a member of the clergy.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

patronage [(pay-truh-nij, pat-ruh-nij)]

The power of a government official or leader to make appointments and offer favors. Once in office, a politician can use patronage to build a loyal following. Though practiced at all levels of government, patronage is most often associated with the machine politics of big cities. (See spoils system.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

patronage 
1412, "right of presenting a qualified person to a church benefice," from M.L. patronizare (1382) or O.Fr. patroniser (1456); see patron. General sense of "power to give jobs or favors" is from 1769; meaning "regular business of customers" is 1804.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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