patron
Arts funding benefactor
A patron is someone who supports or frequents an establishment or cause.
Restaurant patrons are customers; patrons of the arts provide financial backing for artists and institutions.
The word suggests a relationship beyond mere transaction—ongoing support or regular attendance: She's been a patron of this gallery for twenty years.
A patron saint is a saint regarded as protector of a particular place, profession, or group.
Donor to charitable causes
- donorOne who contributes freely
- sponsorFunder of activities
- benefactorOne who gives aid
- backerFinancial supporter
underwriter · contributor · funder · angel · investor · endower · grantor · subsidizer
One who hires professionals
- guestWelcomed visitor
- dinerCasual American eatery
- regularOccurring at fixed intervals
- shopperOne who purchases goods
visitor · frequenter · consumer · buyer · subscriber · clientele · establishment · restaurant
One who safeguards others
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- namesakeOne sharing another's name
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
feast · veneration · shrine · relic · blessing · prayer · invocation · Catholic
philanthropist
Donor to charitable causes
- donorOne who contributes freely
- sponsorFunder of activities
- benefactorOne who gives aid
backer · underwriter · contributor · funder · angel · investor · endower · grantor · subsidizer · altruist
client
One who hires professionals
shopper · visitor · frequenter · consumer · buyer · subscriber · clientele · establishment · restaurant · bar
protector
One who safeguards others
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- namesakeOne sharing another's name
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
devotion · feast · veneration · shrine · relic · blessing · prayer · invocation · Catholic · church
cronyism
Favoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- spoilsSeized war gains
machine · boss · ward · appointment · sinecure · loyalty · influence · power · network · connection
- advocatesadvocate, activist, campaigner, crusader, defender
- barbartender, bartending, mixologist, mixology, bar stool
- buyersbuyers, buyer, purchasers, purchaser, homebuyers
- donorsdonor, blood donor, organ donor, living donor, bone marrow donor
- backingfinancial backing, moral support, endorsement, sponsorship, funding
- helpersnurse, helper, volunteer, aide, assistant
patronvendor
One who sells goods
seller · merchant · shopkeeper · proprietor · tradesman
patrondetractor
One who diminishes
opponent · antagonist · obstructionist · critic · enemy
- patron saintsHoly advocates for groups
- patron of the artsFunder of cultural work
- art patronFunder of creative endeavors
- patronage systemsRewarding supporters with positions
- political patronageAwarding posts for loyalty
- family patriarchMale head of household
patrons, patronize, patronage, Patronymic, patriarch, patronizing, patronymic, patronized, patron saint