patronage
Wealthy backer's assistance
Patronage is support given by a patron—whether financial backing of the arts, regular business given to a shop, or political favor dispensed by those in power.
An artist may depend on wealthy patronage.
A restaurant values your patronage.
In politics, patronage means distributing jobs or contracts to loyalists: The mayor's office ran on patronage and backroom deals.
One who gives aid
- sponsorFunder of activities
- donorOne who contributes freely
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
funding · grant · commission · Medici · Renaissance · artist · museum · symphony
Favoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
graft · payoffs · political · appointments · spoils · machine · ward · boss
Scheduled time for something
- nomineeOne proposed for position
- officeholderElected or appointed official
- spoils systemAwarding posts to supporters
- machinePower-driven working device
ward · boss · precinct · campaign · election · vote · constituent · representative
People who purchase goods
- clienteleCollective body of customers
- businessCommercial activity or occupation
- tradeExchange of commodities
- customHabitual group practice
retail · sales · shopping · frequenting · consumers · merchants · transactions · buying
Nobleman or ruler
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
fief · manor · nobility · protection · obligation · medieval · hierarchy · dependent
Canonized holy person
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- feast daySaint's commemorative holiday
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
shrine · pilgrimage · prayer · veneration · church · chapel · cathedral · diocese
Demeaning air of superiority
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- disdainScornful disregard
- dismissivenessAttitude of casual disregard
- arroganceExcessive self-importance
haughtiness · snobbery · paternalism · belittling · talking down · contempt · smugness · lofty
benefactor
One who gives aid
- sponsorFunder of activities
- donorOne who contributes freely
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
endowment · funding · grant · commission · Medici · Renaissance · artist · museum · symphony · gallery
cronyism
Favoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
bribery · graft · payoffs · political · appointments · spoils · machine · ward · boss · quid pro quo
appointment
Scheduled time for something
- nomineeOne proposed for position
- officeholderElected or appointed official
- spoils systemAwarding posts to supporters
machine · ward · boss · precinct · campaign · election · vote · constituent · representative · influence
customers
People who purchase goods
- clienteleCollective body of customers
- businessCommercial activity or occupation
- tradeExchange of commodities
custom · retail · sales · shopping · frequenting · consumers · merchants · transactions · buying · establishment
lord
Nobleman or ruler
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
allegiance · fief · manor · nobility · protection · obligation · medieval · hierarchy · dependent · retainer
saint
Canonized holy person
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- feast daySaint's commemorative holiday
devotion · shrine · pilgrimage · prayer · veneration · church · chapel · cathedral · diocese · clergy
condescension
Demeaning air of superiority
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- disdainScornful disregard
- dismissivenessAttitude of casual disregard
arrogance · haughtiness · snobbery · paternalism · belittling · talking down · contempt · smugness · lofty · imperious
- supportsupport, emotional support, moral support, support group, stand by
- Ancient RomeRome, Julius Caesar, Caesar, gladiator, gladiators
- art worldartist, painter, painting, paintings, sculpture
- cultural supportheritage sites, cultural centers, art councils, preservation, restoration
- income sourcessalary, wages, hourly pay, wage, commission
- medieval courtkings, lord, queens, lady, queen
patronageopposition
Active resistance or dissent
antagonism · hostility · boycott · detraction · sabotage
patronageself-sufficiency
Independence from outside aid
independence · autonomy · self-reliance · bootstrapping · self-funding
patronagemeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
competition · fair hiring · merit-based selection · competitive bidding · open competition
- patronage systemsRewarding supporters with positions
- political patronageAwarding posts for loyalty
- art patronageFinancial support for artists
- royal patronageMonarch-funded support for endeavors
- government patronageState-bestowed favors and positions