patronage

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As her husband oversaw the country’s economic collapse, Flores’s family patronage system flourished.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Some argued that it only stayed afloat because of official patronage, which fell away after Mugabe's ousting.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

"Villagers still have expectations of their MPs because under our centralised government system they can't access resources fairly. They have to rely on the patronage network for their families' security."

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

A system of patronage led to the ballooning of PdVSA’s payroll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Neither was he counted one of the queen's men, that group of ambitious knights and minor lordlings who had given themselves to this Lord of Light and so won the favor and patronage of Lady—no.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin