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patron saint

noun

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

patron saint

noun

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

patron saint

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 .

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Word History and Origins

Origin of patron saint¹

First recorded in 1710–20

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Across the country - where it is not uncommon for the smallest village to have a patron saint - church bells tolled and portraits of Pope Francis were hung inside churches as the faithful mourned.

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Brady is the patron saint of the passed-over passers, and this Los Angeles Times beat-writer mock draft has plenty of those.

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At the mouth of every tunnel there is a small shrine to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners.

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He had pre-recorded a social media video to mark the day Wales's patron saint is honoured and to "celebrate Wales – its history, culture and incredible people".

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Every year on 1 March, Wales celebrates St David's Day - but how much do we actually know about the country's patron saint?

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Related Words

guardian angel

patronne patronym

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