patronage
/ˈpeɪtrənɪdʒ/
noun
- The support, encouragement, or financial help that a person or organization gives to another person, a business, or a cause.
- The restaurant thanked its regular customers for their continued patronage.
- The local theater relies on the patronage of community members to stay open.
- Her patronage of the arts helped many young musicians start their careers.
- The power to appoint people to jobs or give them other advantages, especially in politics or business.
- The new director ended the old system of patronage and hired based on merit.
- Patronage in the government often leads to accusations of favoritism.
- The mayor used his patronage to give jobs to his supporters.
- The regular business or customers of a shop, restaurant, or service.
- The café's patronage increased after it started offering free Wi-Fi.
- The hotel's patronage drops during the winter months.
- Small shops depend on the patronage of people living nearby.