Definition of "patronage" noun countable and uncountable , plural patronages
(politics) Granting favours or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support . quotations examples
Quotations Patronage , nepotism , cronyism , abuse of power , and criminal activity flourish , sometimes for decades , in numerous town halls , police stations , and special -purpose government agencies in the suburbs .
2015, Thomas J. Gradel, Dick Simpson, Corrupt Illinois: Patronage, Cronyism, and Criminality, University of Illinois Press, page 117
verb third-person singular simple present patronages , present participle patronaging , simple past and past participle patronaged
(transitive) To support by being a patron of . quotations examples
Quotations To summarize : a person with a party political background is thus defined as ‘a person that has served in (a ) […] and /or (b ) a non -elective position inside the party administration of patronaged position in another organisation , i .e . the political functionary ’.
2007, Stefaan Fiers, Ineke Secker, “6, A Career through the Party”, in Maurizio Cotta, Heinrich Best, editors, Democratic Representation in Europe, Oxford University Press, page 138
(transitive) To be a regular customer or client of ; to patronize quotations examples
Quotations Most public establishments catered to Blacks , and Whites actively patronaged some black -owned businesses (Martin 1982, 6, 9–11; Slingsby 1980, 31–32).
2002, Kevin Fox Gotham, Race, Real Estate, and Uneven Development, SUNY Press, page 28