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- Dictionarypa·tron·ize/ˈpātrəˌnīz/
verb
- 1. treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but that betrays a feeling of superiority: "she was determined not to be put down or patronized" Similar
- 2. frequent (a store, theater, restaurant, or other establishment) as a customer: "restaurants remaining open in the evening were well patronized" Similar
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What Does patronize Mean? The various meanings of patronize can easily be distinguished if you consider which sense of patron they allude to. Patronize in the sense “to provide aid or support for” refers to the sort of patron who gives money or assistance. Such a person might, for example, patronize the arts.
to be a regular customer of a shop, restaurant, hotel, etc.: Special offer coupons can be effective in motivating shoppers to patronize certain establishments. to speak to or behave towards someone as if they are stupid or not important: Additional research has found that 70% of people feel patronised by advertising.
to speak to or behave towards someone as if they are stupid or not important: Stop patronizing me - I understand the play as well as you do. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Showing arrogance and conceit. (as) proud as Lucifer idiom. airs and graces idiom. arrogantly. as if you owned the place idiom. egoistically. egomaniacally.
If you patronize a business, you shop there regularly. But if someone patronizes you, it's not so pleasant — they talk to you as if you were inferior or not very intelligent. Patronize comes from Latin patronus "protector, master," related to pater "father."
to be a regular customer of a shop, restaurant, hotel, etc.: Special offer coupons can be effective in motivating shoppers to patronize certain establishments. to speak to or behave towards someone as if they are stupid or not important: Additional research has found that 70% of people feel patronised by advertising.
verb (used with object) , pa·tron·ized, pa·tron·iz·ing. to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage; trade with. to behave in an offensively condescending manner toward: a professor who patronizes his students. to act as a patron toward (an artist, institution, etc.); support. patronize.
verb transitive Word forms: ˈpatronˌized or ˈpatronˌizing. 1. to act as a patron toward; sponsor; support. 2. to be kind or helpful to, but in a haughty or snobbish way, as if dealing with an inferior. 3. to be a regular customer of (a store, merchant, etc.)
