patent

verb

pat·​ent ˈpa-tᵊnt 

British also

ˈpā- 

patented; patenting; patents

transitive verb

1

: to obtain or grant a patent right to

2

: to grant a privilege, right, or license to by patent

3

: to obtain or secure by patent

especially : to secure by letters patent exclusive right to make, use, or sell

patentability

ˌpa-tᵊn-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

British also ˌpā-

noun

patentable

ˈpa-tᵊn-tə-bəl 

British also ˈpā-

adjective

Examples of patent in a Sentence

The product was patented by its inventor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Calone was first developed and patented by Pfizer in 1966, and its sea-breeze scent was used to add a freshness to soaps and detergents. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 3 June 2026

The combine/reaping machine cutting mechanism (1833) American inventor Obed Hussey patented one of the earliest practical mechanical reapers in 1833. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026

Another Frenchman, engineer Raymond Saulnier, had recently patented a mechanism that would allow a machine gun to shoot between the spinning blades. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 26 May 2026

His proposal was rejected but Freeman patented his prototype anyways, with the hope that the concept would be revisited in the future. —Shirl Leigh may 22, New Atlas, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing patent

• letters patent
• patent flour
• patent leather
• patent medicine
• patent office
• patent right
• take out a patent on

Rhymes for patent

• combatant
• noncombatant
• supernatant

Kids Definition

patent

1 of 3 adjective

pat·​ent

sense 1 is

ˈpat-ᵊnt 

sense 2 is

ˈpāt- 

ˈpat-

1

a

: protected by a patent

b

: of, relating to, or concerned with patents

a patent lawyer

c

: proprietary entry 2 sense 2

a patent can opener

2

: plain entry 2 sense 4a, obvious

a patent lie

patently adverb

patent

2 of 3 noun

pat·​ent ˈpat-ᵊnt 

1

: an official document granting a right or privilege

especially : a writing granting to an inventor for a term of years the only right to make, use, or sell his or her invention

2

: the right granted by a patent

patent

3 of 3 verb

pat·​ent ˈpat-ᵊnt 

: to protect by patent

patentable

ˈpat-ᵊn-tə-bəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

patent

adjective

pa·​tent

ˈpat-ᵊnt, British usually ˈpāt-

1

: protected by a trademark or a trade name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by a patent : proprietary

patent drugs

2

ˈpāt-

: affording free passage : being open and unobstructed

the nose patent with no pathological discharge

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

Legal Definition

patent

1 of 3 adjective

pat·​ent ˈpat-ᵊnt, 3 also ˈpāt- 

1

a

: open to public inspection see also letters patent at letter sense 2

b

: secured or protected by a patent

a nonexclusive patent license to produce and sell the product

sought to enforce her patent rights against infringement

2

: of, relating to, or concerned with the granting of patents especially for inventions

a patent lawyer

involved in patent litigation

3

: readily seen, discovered, or understood

a patent defect

if no bad faith or abuse is patent

compare latent

patently adverb

patent

2 of 3 noun

pat·​ent ˈpat-ᵊnt 

1

: an official document conferring a right or privilege : letters patent at letter 2

2

a

: the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention or products made by an invented process that is granted to an inventor and his or her heirs or assigns for a term of years see also intellectual property at property compare copyright, trademark

Note: A patent may be granted for a process, act, or method that is new, useful, and not obvious, for a new use of a known process, machine, or composition of matter or material, as well as for an asexually reproduced distinct and new variety of plant (excluding one propagated from a tuber), and for any new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. Design patents are issued for a term of 14 years. Patents issuing on applications made after June 8, 1995, for basic or plant patents (excluding design patents) are for a term of 20 years from the date of application. An inventor can file a provisional patent application, which requires less documentation and lower fees than a regular application, before reducing the invention to practice. This allows the inventor to claim “patent pending” status for the invention and to establish an earlier filing date and priority of the invention. A regular patent application must be made within a year of the provisional application or it will expire. Patents are considered personal property and may be sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred. Under common law, if a patented invention or discovery is made while the inventor is working for a company, and is made on company time with company facilities and materials, the employer receives an irrevocable, nonassignable, nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use it. Often an employee is required contractually to assign his or her patent to the employer.

b

: the writing securing such a right

received his patent in the mail

c

: a patented invention

all substantial rights to a patent

—Internal Revenue Code

3

: an instrument making a conveyance of public lands

to issue a patent to each of said Indians for the village or town lot occupied by him

—U.S. Code

see also fee patent at fee sense 1

patent

3 of 3 transitive verb

pat·​ent

: to obtain or grant a right to (something) by a patent

the land was patented to the railroad

specifically : to protect the rights to (an invention) by a patent

printed matter cannot be patented

Etymology

Anglo-French, from Latin patent-, patens, from present participle of patēre to be open