English Explanatory Dictionary

patronize

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To act as a patron of; to defend, protect, or support.
To make oneself a customer of a business, especially a regular customer.
To assume a tone of unjustified superiority toward; to talk down to, to treat condescendingly.
To blame, to reproach.

Pronunciation

/ˈpeɪtɹənaɪz/ /ˈpætɹənaɪz/ /ˈpætɹənɑez/ en-au-patronize.ogg

Word forms

patronize patronizes patronizing patronized patronise

Etymology

From patron + -ize (verb ending); or from Old French patroniser, from Medieval Latin patronizāre (“to lead a galley as patron”). Piecewise doublet of patternize.

Synonyms

Related words

nonpatronage patrocination patron patronage patronal patronate patroness patronessship patronless patronly patron saint patronship

Derived words

patronizable patronisable patronization patronisation patronizer patroniser patronizingly patronisingly patronizing patronising underpatronized unpatronized unpatronised

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