# patronage

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpeɪtɹənɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #16,088

## Definitions
1. The act of providing approval and support; backing; championship.
2. Customers collectively; clientele; business.
3. The act or state of being a customer of some business.
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. The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson.
9. Patronising speech or behaviour.

## Etymology
From Middle English patronage, from Old French patronage (modern French patronage). Equivalent to patron + -age. Piecewise doublet of patternage.

## Easily confused with
- **patronize** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/patronage-vs-patronize)
- **parsonage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/parsonage-vs-patronage)

## Common misspellings (13)
`aptronage`, `partonage`, `patornage`, `patrnoage`, `patroange`, `patronaeg`, `patronagge`, `patrongae`, `patronnage`, `patrronage`, `pattronage`, `ppatronage`, `ptaronage`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/patronage