pa ‧ tron /ˈpeɪtrən/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: patronus , from Latin pater 'father' ]
1 . someone who supports the activities of an organization, for example by giving money:
a wealthy patron
patron of
a patron of the arts
2 . a famous person who is officially involved with an organization, such as a ↑ charity , and whose name is used to help advertise it ⇨ patroness
3 . formal someone who uses a particular shop, restaurant, or hotel SYN customer :
facilities for disabled patrons
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THESAURUS
▪ customer someone who buys goods or services from a shop or company:
Customers were waiting for the shop to open.
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The bank is one of our biggest customers.
▪ client someone who pays for a service from a professional person or company:
He has a meeting with one of his clients.
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The company buys and sells shares on behalf of their clients
▪ shopper someone who goes to the shops looking for things to buy:
The streets were full of Christmas shoppers.
▪ guest someone who pays to stay in a hotel:
Guests must leave their rooms by 10 am.
▪ patron /ˈpeɪtrən/ formal a customer of a particular shop, restaurant or hotel – usually written on signs:
The notice said ‘Parking for Patrons Only’.
▪ patient someone who is getting medical treatment from a doctor, or in a hospital:
He is a patient of Dr Williams.
▪ consumer anyone who buys goods or uses services – used when considering these people as a group who have particular rights, needs, or behaviour:
Consumers are demanding more environmentally-friendly products.
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the rights of the consumer
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The law is designed to protect consumers who buy goods on the Internet.
▪ market the number of people who want to buy a product, or the type of people who want to buy it:
The market for organic food is growing all the time.
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a magazine aimed at the youth market
▪ clientele /ˌkliːənˈtel $ ˌklaɪənˈtel, ˌkliː-/ formal the type of customers that a particular shop, restaurant etc gets:
The hotel has a very upmarket clientele.
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They have a wealthy international clientele.