padrone

[ puh-droh-nee, -ney; Italian pah-draw-ne ]

/ pəˈdroʊ ni, -neɪ; Italian pɑˈdrɔ nɛ /

Save This Word!

noun, plural pa·dro·nes

[puh-droh-neez, -neyz], /pəˈdroʊ niz, -neɪz/, Italian pa·dro·ni

[pah-draw-nee]. /pɑˈdrɔ ni/.

a master; boss.

an employer, especially of immigrant laborers, who provides communal housing and eating arrangements, controls the allocation of pay, etc., in a manner that exploits the workers.

an innkeeper.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of padrone

From Italian, dating back to 1660–70; see origin at patron

OTHER WORDS FROM padrone

pa·dro·nism

[puh-droh-niz-uhm], /pəˈdroʊ nɪz əm/, noun

Words nearby padrone

Padova, padparadschah sapphire, padre, Padre Island, padrino, padrone, pad saw, pad stone, pad thai, Padua, paduasoy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use padrone in a sentence

Zelphine has just been talking to the padrone, who speaks excellent English, about the excursion to-morrow.
Italian Days and Ways|Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
The padrone asks us, in case we decide to drive, whether we will give a seat in our carriage to the odd number.
Italian Days and Ways|Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
Their spirit of mutual helpfulness saved them from padrone, "banker," and Black Hand.
The Old World in the New|Edward Alsworth Ross
It seems that sometimes, though rarely, it pleases them to pretend to believe that their padrone has displeased them.
Castellinaria|Henry Festing Jones

A waif like himself, a lost baby whom he found on the road being cruelly beaten by a brute of an Italian padrone.
Pippin; A Wandering Flame|Laura E. Richards

British Dictionary definitions for padrone

padrone

/ (pəˈdrəʊnɪ) /

noun plural -nes or -ni (-niː)

the owner or proprietor of an inn, esp in Italy

US an employer who completely controls his workers, esp a man who exploits Italian immigrants in the US

Word Origin for padrone

C17: from Italian; see patron 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012