patronage
/ˈpætɹənɪd͡ʒ/noun, verb
patronage is spelled P-A-T-R-O-N-A-G-E: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 2.8 times per million words in written English, the 16,005th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, patronage means “The act of providing approval and support; backing; championship” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of patronage is patronages.
How many letters and syllables are in patronage?
| Letters | 9: P-A-T-R-O-N-A-G-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.8 times per million words; the 16,005th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is patronage?
Patronage appears 2.8 times per million words in written English, the 16,005th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce patronage?
- /ˈpeɪtɹənɪd͡ʒ/
- UK /ˈpætɹənɪd͡ʒ/
Patronage has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-patronage.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of patronage
- patronages plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- patronaging participle, present
- patronaged participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does patronage mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The act of providing approval and support; backing; championship.
His vigorous patronage of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives.
- 2
Customers collectively; clientele; business.
The restaurant had an upper-class patronage.
- 3
The act or state of being a customer of some business.
The restaurant had "Thank you for your patronage!" printed on its take-out bags.
- 4
A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient; condescension; disdain.
- 5
Granting favours or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support.
- 6
Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care.
- 7
The right of nomination to political office.
- 8
UKThe right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson.
verb
- 1
To support by being a patron of.
- 2
To be a regular customer or client of; to patronize
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Patronage in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | soutien, mécénat, parrainage , clientèle , clientélisme, patronage |
| German | Schirmherrschaft, Protektion, Patronat , Klüngel, Klüngelwirtschaft , Patrozinium |
| Portuguese | mecenato, patronato , clientelismo |
| Spanish | patrocinio , clientela |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does patronage come from?
From Middle English patronage, from Old French patronage (modern French patronage). Equivalent to patron + -age. Piecewise doublet of patternage.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).