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When Italians began using patina in the 17th century to refer to the green film that forms on the surface of copper, they were drawing on Latin, in which patina means "a shallow dish." (Presumably, the Italian meaning developed from the observation of such film forming on copper dishes.) By the mid-18th century, English speakers were also calling the green film patina, and by the 20th century, they'd expanded the word's application to surface appearances of things that have grown more beautiful with age or use—think of an old wooden desk or a tarnished silver goblet. Use of the word to refer to thin layers both literal and figurative ("a patina of grime," "a patina of respectability") followed soon after.
Examples of patina in a Sentence
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2025
Led by principal designer Jen Dean, the firm is known for its fresh take on traditional style, combining comfortable furnishings with vintage pieces that add patina and history.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2025
Over time, your favorite copper pots may develop a green or dark brown patina.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2025
As Lively told LaLa Anthony during the Vogue livestream on the red carpet, the colors of the gown were meant to represent the patina aging that copper undergoes over time, nodding to the Statue of Liberty.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Patina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patina. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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