| Noun | 1. | patronage - the act of providing approval and support; "his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives"approval, approving, blessing - the formal act of giving approval; "he gave the project his blessing"; "his decision merited the approval of any sensible person" | |
| 2. | patronage - customers collectively; "they have an upper class clientele"people - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience" | |
| 3. | patronage - a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient | |
| 4. | patronage - (politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political supportsocial control - control exerted (actively or passively) by group action nomenklatura - the system of patronage in Communist countries; controlled by committees in the Communist Party | |
| 5. | patronage - the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers; "even before noon there was a considerable patronage"business - the volume of business activity; "business is good today"; "show me where the business was today" custom - habitual patronage; "I have given this tailor my custom for many years" | |
| Verb | 1. | patronage - support by being a patron ofmaintain, sustain, keep - supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep" | |
| 2. | patronage - be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could"keep going, run on - continue uninterrupted; "The disease will run on unchecked"; "The party kept going until 4 A.M." | |