The Clue
Sponsorship (9 letter answer)
The Answer
PATRONAGE
Tags
Notes
The answer PATRONAGE is so rare that it appears less than once every 2500 puzzles.
Related Clues
Political-plum system
Rewards of a political machine
Definition
PATRONAGE as a noun:
1. (backing, backup, championship, patronage) = the act of providing approval and support; "his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives"
2. (clientele, patronage, business) = customers collectively; "they have an upper class clientele"
3. (condescension, disdain, patronage) = a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient
4. (politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
5. (trade, patronage) = the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers; "even before noon there was a considerable patronage"
PATRONAGE as a verb:
1. support by being a patron of
2. (patronize, patronise, patronage, support, keep going) = be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could"