patent

adjective

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pat·ent | \ senses 1–3 are ˈpa-tᵊnt

, chiefly British ˈpā-; sense 4 ˈpā-; sense 5 ˈpā-, ˈpa-; senses 6–7 ˈpa-, ˈpā-, British usually ˈpā-

Definition of patent

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : open to public inspection —used chiefly in the phrase letters patent

b(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 maker

c : 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

5 : patulous, spreading a patent calyx

6 archaic : accessible, exposed

7 : readily visible or intelligible : obvious his patent sincerity a patent falsehood

patent

noun

pat·ent | \ ˈpa-tᵊnt

, British also ˈpā-

Definition of patent (Entry 2 of 3)

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 invention

b : the monopoly or right so granted

c : a patented invention

3 : privilege, license

4 : an instrument making a conveyance of public lands also : the land so conveyed

5 : patent leather

patent

verb

pat·ent | \ ˈpa-tᵊnt

, British also ˈpā-

patented; patenting; patents

Definition of patent (Entry 3 of 3)

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

Other Words from patent Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about patent

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Other Words from patent

Adjective

patently adverb

Verb

patentability \ ˌpa-tᵊn-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

, British also ˌpā- \ noun

patentable \ ˈpa-tᵊn-tə-bəl

, British also ˈpā- \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for patent

Adjective

evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended. evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion. an evident fondness for sweets manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required. manifest hostility patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it. patent defects distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required. a distinct refusal obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer. the obvious solution apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference. for no apparent reason plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration. her feelings about him are plain clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern. a clear explanation

Examples of patent in a Sentence

Adjective 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. Noun The product is protected by patent. Verb The product was patented by its inventor.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Tech companies file patent infringement lawsuits all the time — BlackBerry just sued Facebook for patent infringement last week. — Kurt Wagner, Recode, "Match Group wants to buy Bumble. Now it’s also suing Bumble.," 17 Mar. 2018 The researchers gathered data on how many different provisions of patent law each examiner invoked, on the theory that a more effective examiner would invoke more patent law provisions, on average. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Why the roots of patent trolling may be in the patent office," 5 Mar. 2018 Aspiring entrepreneurs will receive help in gaining access to business mentors, prototyping services, legal and patent advice and business plan development. — Karen Farkas, cleveland.com, "Cleveland State University receives $1 million gift for entrepreneurship lab," 15 Dec. 2017 While that didn’t result in any new federal law, many states ultimately passed laws limiting how patent demand letters can be used. — Joe Mullin, Ars Technica, "New bill would end Native American “sovereign immunity” for patents," 9 Oct. 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Your business counsel would refer you to a patent attorney to register or defend your company's inventions, for instance, or might bring in a litigator to deal with a lawsuit. — Stacey Supina, Star Tribune, "How to shop for legal services for your business," 21 Feb. 2021 Flores, a patent attorney, said Friday that the upcoming election would be his last. — Corbett Smith, Dallas News, "Only one race up for grabs in upcoming Dallas ISD school board elections," 12 Feb. 2021 But the Orphan Drug Act, in addition to creating tax incentives and credits, enables companies to get a priority review voucher that effectively extends the length of their patent on a drug of their choice. — Nicole Hassoun, The Conversation, "The price of a drug should be based on its therapeutic benefits – not just what the market will bear," 13 Jan. 2021 In November, Pfizer spun off Upjohn, its division for off-patent drugs, and combined it with Mylan NV. — Alexandra Bruell, WSJ, "Pfizer Introduces New Logo Playing Up Role in Drug Creation," 5 Jan. 2021 Kavya took a break from predicting new COVID hot spots and celebrating her recent cancer diagnostic research patent (casual) to chat with Seventeen. — Maya Mcdowell, Seventeen, "Kavya Kopparapu is Helping Make Technology Education Available for Students Worldwide," 1 Dec. 2020 Drabnis has 20 years of experience as a patent attorney. — NOLA.com, "New Orleans, Baton Rouge area People in Business for Nov. 29, 2020," 29 Nov. 2020 Dondero was a skier, rock climber and sailor, held a patent for a water-skiing tow rope and went back to work in his 60s to join his son John who had started a business making goggles. — Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, "The pep talk you need from two Spanish Flu survivors: 'Life has to go on'," 4 Feb. 2021 The foundation has also applied for a patent for the device, on Vinisha’s behalf. — Manipadma Jena, The Christian Science Monitor, "Teen power: An Indian girl invents a solar iron to reduce smog," 20 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb To patent a humble staple like panela struck Colombians as absurd, like patenting café con leche. — New York Times, "Colombians Ask: Who Would Dare Patent Panela?," 26 Jan. 2021 The company won't even patent the process for fear of exposing its secrets. — Eric Tingwall, Car and Driver, "The Greatest Racer, Advancements, Blunders, Designer, and More," 1 July 2020 The first patented drive-in movie theatre opened in 1933 in Camden, New Jersey, where audiences paid 25 cents per car, and the same again per occupant, to see the latest pictures. — The Economist, "Parking it Drive-in shows, films, meals and even worship help ease lockdowns," 24 May 2020 Earlier this month, researchers from the virology institute in Wuhan filed an application to patent the drug’s use for treating the virus. — Bloomberg.com, "Gilead’s Drug Leads Global Race for Coronavirus Treatment," 7 May 2020 Arkansas hunter Henry Gibson patented the first box call in 1897, and his caller was sold into the early 1920s. — Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, "The Turkey Gear Hall of Fame," 4 May 2020 Paul patented the idea of mobile ride-hailing over a wireless network in 2002. — Carolyn Said, SFChronicle.com, "Sidecar lawsuit alleging Uber monopoly practices can continue, judge says," 1 May 2020 The automaker has patented a process that empowers a car to determine what odors exist within a car and adjust to accommodate passengers. — Mihir Maddireddy, Car and Driver, "Ford Patents App to Check Ride-Share Cars for Bad Smells before You Get In," 21 Apr. 2020 Connecticut entrepreneur William Middlebrook patented a clip-winding machine in 1899, and American Clip Co. started cranking out the indispensable office supply stateside four years later. — Popular Science, "Twelve classic products that were perfect from the start," 12 Apr. 2020

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.

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“Patent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patent. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for patent

patent

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of patent

(Entry 1 of 3)

: of, relating to, or concerned with patents

formal : obvious or clear

patent

noun

English Language Learners Definition of patent (Entry 2 of 3)

: 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

verb

English Language Learners Definition of patent (Entry 3 of 3)

: to get a patent for (something)

See the full definition for patent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

patent

adjective

pat·ent | \ for 1 ˈpa-tᵊnt or ˈpā-, for 2 ˈpa- \

Kids Definition of patent

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : obvious, evident a patent lie

2 : relating to or concerned with patents patent law

patent

noun

pat·ent | \ ˈpa-tᵊnt

Kids Definition of patent (Entry 2 of 3)

: 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

patent

verb

pat·ent | \ ˈpa-tᵊnt

patented; patenting

Kids Definition of patent (Entry 3 of 3)

: to obtain the legal right to be the only one to make or sell an invention

patent

adjective

pa·tent | \ ˈpat-ᵊnt, British usually ˈpāt- \

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

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patent

adjective

pat·ent | \ ˈpat-ᵊnt, 3 also ˈpāt-

Legal Definition of patent

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

patent

noun

pat·ent | \ ˈpat-ᵊnt

Legal Definition of patent (Entry 2 of 3)

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

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

transitive verb

pat·ent

Legal Definition of patent (Entry 3 of 3)

: 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