patronage

Plural: patronages

Noun

• the act of providing approval and support
• customers collectively
• a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient
• (politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
• the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers
  • "even before noon there was a considerable patronage"
• The act of providing approval and support; backing; championship.
• Customers collectively; clientele; business.
• The act or state of being a customer of some business.
• A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient; condescension; disdain.
• Granting favours or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support.
• Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care.
• The right of nomination to political office.
• The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson.
• Patronising speech or behaviour.

Verb

• support by being a patron of
• be a regular customer or client of
• To support by being a patron of.
• To be a regular customer or client of; to patronize

Examples

• His vigorous patronage of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives.
• The restaurant had "Thank you for your patronage!" printed on its take-out bags.
• The restaurant had an upper-class patronage.

Synonyms

backing, backup, business, championship, clientele, condescension, disdain, keep going, patronise, patronize, support, trade