#1 patronage n. [backing, backup, championship] the act of providing approval and support; "his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives". wn
#2 patronage v. support by being a patron of. wn
#3 patronage n. [clientele, business] customers collectively; "they have an upper class clientele". wn
#4 patronage v. [patronize, patronise, support, keep going] be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could". wn
#5 patronage n. [condescension, disdain] a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient. wn
vizzz