Skip to content

mecenate

patron, sponsor

noun meh-cheh-NAH-teh Rare

Origin: From Gaius Maecenas, Roman patron of the arts under Augustus

Usage Note

Mecenate refers to a wealthy patron who supports artists or cultural endeavours — the word comes directly from the Roman statesman Maecenas. Unlike sponsor, which is a neutral commercial term, mecenate carries a sense of generous, disinterested cultural patronage. The abstract noun mecenatismo means patronage of the arts.

Examples

"Il ricco mecenate finanziava giovani pittori."

Natural Translation

The wealthy patron financed young painters.

Explore Italian by topic