patronize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "patronize" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to treating someone with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority. Example: "She felt that he tended to patronize her during their conversations." Alternative expressions include "talk down to" and "condescend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This "serves as a call to repentance for those who work at the abortion center and those who patronize the facility".

The Economist

He also formed the Council for the Economic Development of Black Americans; the organization's Buy Freedom campaign encouraged African Americans to patronize black businesses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some individuals were able to take advantage of the manual labour of others to amass enough wealth to patronize a wide range of arts and crafts; of these, a few were able to establish territorial monarchies and foster religious institutions with wider appeal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Those who can afford it patronize private hospitals, which are strongly supported by the medical profession.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Later that year Vogue launched Fashion's Night Out, a joint global initiative encouraging people to patronize international designers and retailers during the global financial crisis; the now annual affair marked the largest shopping event in history.

Encyclopedia Britannica

U.S. law distinguishes between primary and secondary labour boycotts: a primary boycott is the refusal of employees to purchase the goods or services of their employers, and a secondary boycott involves an attempt to induce third parties to refuse to patronize the employer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Richelieu's great interest in the theatre persuaded him to patronize a number of dramatists, including Corneille and Jean de Rotrou.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Indeed, the ambition and success of West Indian businesspeople bred its own brand of discrimination and resentment from Harlem neighbours who refused to patronize their businesses, forcing Douglas to overcome the biases of both white America and black Harlem.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It also provides the context of belief for various Zen rituals, such as funeral services performed by Zen priests and ancestral memorial rites for the families of laypeople who patronize the temples.

Encyclopedia Britannica

North Jerseyans watch New York television, root (for the most part) for New York athletic teams, and patronize New York theatres and restaurants.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Liebig's scientific work with fulminates, together with his fortunate meeting with the influential German naturalist and diplomat Alexander von Humboldt, who was always keen to patronize younger talent, led to Liebig's appointment at the small University of Giessen in May 1824.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In modern professional writing, lean toward "frequent" or "support" if you want to avoid the potential negative baggage associated with the primary word.

Common error

Avoid using "patronize" when trying to praise a colleague for their mentorship. While technically related to being a 'patron', it is almost exclusively interpreted as 'talking down' in modern interpersonal contexts. Use "mentor" or "support" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "patronize" functions as a transitive verb. According to Ludwig examples, it takes a direct object which can be a person (interpersonal sense) or a business/institution (commercial sense). It is a polysemous word, meaning it holds multiple distinct but related meanings depending on the syntactic environment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "patronize" is a fascinating example of linguistic evolution where a word can mean both something supportive and something insulting. Based on Ludwig AI analysis and the extensive library of examples, it is a staple of high-level English. In its commercial sense, it describes the act of being a customer, widely seen in sources like Encyclopedia Britannica. In its interpersonal sense, it describes a condescending attitude, a usage frequently critiqued in The New Yorker. When using this word, context is the most important factor to ensure your reader understands whether you are discussing business support or social superiority. To avoid confusion, many modern writers prefer specific alternatives like "frequent" for shops or "condescend" for behavior.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

condescend

shares the negative meaning of acting with an air of superiority but focuses more on the act of stooping to a lower level

talk down to

a more direct and informal alternative for the negative sense of treating someone as inferior

frequent

specifically replaces the meaning of being a regular customer at a place of business

shop at

the most common and neutral way to describe the commercial relationship without the ambiguity of the main word

infantilize

describes a specific and more severe form of condescension where someone is treated like a child

support

highlights the positive aspect of being a patron, such as providing financial or moral backing

buy from

a simple, functional alternative for the business context

sponsor

more formal and often implies a formal financial arrangement or official backing

be a regular at

an idiomatic way to express the habit of visiting a specific business frequently

belittle

focuses on the outcome of making someone feel small, which is often the result of being condescended to

FAQs

How do I use "patronize" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe shopping habits, like "I often frequent this bakery", or to describe an attitude, such as "Please do not "talk down to" me just because I am new here".

What is the difference between "patronize" and "condescend"?

While both mean to treat someone as inferior, "condescend" often implies a conscious effort to lower oneself to another's level, while "patronize" suggests a 'kind' attitude that hides a feeling of superiority.

Can "patronize" mean to shop at a store?

Yes, it is a very common usage in formal English. For example, you might see a sign asking customers to "patronize" local businesses to support the community.

Is "patronize" always a negative word?

No, it is not always negative. In business and the arts, to "patronize" means to "sponsor" or be a customer, which is generally positive. Only the interpersonal usage is negative.