patron saint

noun

1. a saint regarded as the special guardian of a person, group, trade, country, etc.

patron saint

noun

1. a saint regarded as the particular guardian of a country, church, trade, person, etc

patron saint

1. A saint from whom a person or group claims special protection or prayers. Saint Christopher, for example, is considered the patron of travelers; Saint Luke, the patron of doctors; and Saint Patrick, the patron of Ireland. People who have the same name as a saint may consider the saint their patron. The honoring of patron saints is especially common in the Roman Catholic Church.

Word History and Origins

Origin of patron saint¹

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

Those raising flags on lampposts in recent weeks have used mostly union jacks, but others - particularly those painting roundabouts and zebra crossings - have chosen the St George's Cross, which symbolises the patron saint of England.

From BBC

Powe’s relatives belonged to the Knights, named for a 17th century Spanish Jesuit who ministered to enslaved people in Colombia and is the country’s patron saint.

From Los Angeles Times

“To me, Byron is the patron saint of comedians,” said Greg Romero Wilson, who wrote for the program and appeared as a panelist.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes it worked the other way: Ireland's patron saint, Saint Patrick, was a Brit.

From BBC

England's patron saint of lost causes was the man to engineer their last one-wicket victory in a Test.

From BBC

Related Words

• guardian angel