patron saint
noun
1
: a saint to whose protection and intercession a person, a society, a church, or a place is dedicated
2
: an original leader or prime exemplar
Examples of patron saint in a Sentence
St. David is the patron saint of Wales.
St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
The success of her books has made her the patron saint of a new literary movement.
Recent Examples on the Web
Pope Francis was a notable exception, choosing not the name of a former pope but that of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century cleric and patron saint of animals and the environment.
—
Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025
One of the co-founders of ICAN, Wright adds that Pope Francis’ role as a virtual patron saint of the movement to ban nuclear bombs should be recognized into the future with a special kind of homage.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Genevieve: Your baby will share a name with the patron saint of Paris.
—Lydia Wang, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
Above all, there was Marvelous Marv Throneberry, the team’s poor patron saint.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patron saint
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Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025
One of the co-founders of ICAN, Wright adds that Pope Francis’ role as a virtual patron saint of the movement to ban nuclear bombs should be recognized into the future with a special kind of homage.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Genevieve: Your baby will share a name with the patron saint of Paris.
—Lydia Wang, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
Above all, there was Marvelous Marv Throneberry, the team’s poor patron saint.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patron saint
Cite this Entry
“Patron saint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patron%20saint. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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