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Definition of patent
1a : open to public inspection —used chiefly in the phrase letters patentb (1) : secured by letters patent or by a patent to the exclusive control and possession of a particular individual or party patent foodstuffs have acquired an ever-increasing importance — Friedel Strauss (2) : protected by a patent : made under a patent patent locks a patent coffee makerc : protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent : proprietary patent drugs
2 : of, relating to, or concerned with the granting of patents especially for inventions a patent lawyer patent law
3 : making exclusive or proprietary claims or pretensions peddled his patent notions in season and out
4 : affording free passage : unobstructed a patent opening
6 archaic : accessible, exposed
7 : readily visible or intelligible : obvious his patent sincerity a patent falsehood
patently
adverbRead the Latest from M-W
Examples of patent in a Sentence
The company settled a patent dispute last year.
the licensing of patent rights
They were sued for patent infringement.
His explanation turned out to be a patent lie.
She acted with patent disregard for the rules.
Origin and Etymology of patent
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin patent-, patens, from present participle of patēre to be open — more at fathom
Synonym Discussion of patent
Definition of patent
1 : an official document conferring a right or privilege : letters patent
2a : a writing securing for a term of years the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an inventionb : the monopoly or right so grantedc : a patented invention
4 : an instrument making a conveyance of public lands; also : the land so conveyed
5 : patent leather
Examples of patent in a Sentence
The product is protected by patent.
Recent Examples of patent from the Web
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Hendrick's team has applied for a patent for its device, and is now looking for an industry partner to help get regulatory approval for it and bring it into operating rooms in the next few years.
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Google accused the company of stealing its self-driving tech patents, and ultimately the company placed Kalanick on a leave of absence only to fire him fully one week later under further pressure.
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Apple claims Qualcomm has concocted a scheme that allows it to overcharge for patents.
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But by securing the rights for a use patent on the intranasal de livery of esketamine (think of squeezing an Afrin bottle), insiders believe Janssen might be sitting on the Prozac of the 21st century.
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Miami nor any Florida city cracked the top 100 U.S. cities for patent activity, according to a 2017 Time magazine report.
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Patent leather is great for adding some sequin-free shine to your nighttime look, not that shine-deficiency is much of an issue when your name is Elisa Benson and your hair is essentially made of spun gold.
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In February, Waymo sued Uber alleging that Levandowski stole trade secrets and patents from Waymo for the development of self-driving technology and brought them to Uber.
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Denise Kettelberger, a patent attorney with nearly three decades of experience in intellectual property law, has joined Patterson Thuente, Minneapolis.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of patent
see 1patent
Definition of patent
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
Examples of patent in a Sentence
The product was patented by its inventor.
Recent Examples of patent from the Web
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The brush, which can be used to apply foundation, concealer, contour and blush, uses the brand’s patented oscillation technology to blend makeup flawlessly in 60 seconds or less.
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In the 1920s, while living in Berlin, the physicist collaborated with Hungarian graduate assistant Leo Szilárd to develop and patent an energy-efficient fridge.
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Riddell also said all of its helmets feature Patented Side Impact Protection, side shell extensions and side liner extensions designed to help reduce the forces from side impacts.
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All of the research performed by UCSD can be published, Olefsky said, although Janssen will have the right to view it before publication to identify anything that should be patented.
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In 1940, the pioneering grocer patented an improved version of his original design comprised of two baskets (one on the top and one on the bottom) and a folding frame.
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Incidentally, Franklin never patented ANY of his inventions.
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Then Lazlo Biro patented the ballpoint pen in 1938 and inkwells rapidly became a quaint reminder of the past.
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Del Monte patented their process and got FDA approval in December, and the first pink pineapples are starting to make their way to social media now.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of patent
see 1patent
PATENT Defined for English Language Learners
patent
playDefinition of patent for English Language Learners
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: of, relating to, or concerned with patents
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: obvious or clear
patent
playDefinition of patent for English Language Learners
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: an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a certain period of time
patent
playDefinition of patent for English Language Learners
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: to get a patent for (something)
PATENT Defined for Kids
Definition of patent for Students
: a document that gives the inventor of something the right to be the only one to make or sell the invention for a certain number of years
Definition of patent for Students
patented
;patenting
: to obtain the legal right to be the only one to make or sell an invention
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of patent
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—Journal of the American Medical Association
Law Dictionary
Legal Definition of patent
1a : open to public inspection — see also letters patent at letter 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
adverbOrigin and Etymology of patent
Anglo-French, from Latin patent- patens, from present participle of patēre to be open
Legal Definition of patent
1 : an official document conferring a right or privilege : letters patent at letter 2
2a : 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 Editor's 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 1
patent
Legal Definition of patent
: 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
Learn More about patent
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for patent Spanish Central: Translation of patent Nglish: Translation of patent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of patent for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about patent
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