Patronize: 1) to arrogantly treat somebody like they are dumb/immature, and like you are being really gracious to bother to spend time explaining something to them, 2) to be a customer of a business. Examples: “The man spoke to her in a patronizing tone, as if she were a naive young girl. This made her really angry.” “I’m not going to patronize that store anymore. Its prices are too high.”

To talk to someone in a attempt to be helpful, but it is done in a way that is condescending (talking down to someone as if you are superior to them). Example: the man talked to his secretary in a patronizing manner, and she didnt like it.