patent

adjective

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

Darrow became fabulously wealthy, while Magie, who sold her patent to Parker Brothers for a mere $500, was largely forgotten. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "A New Monopoly Celebrates Women. But What About the Game’s Own Overlooked Inventor?," 12 Sep. 2019 Magie sold her patent to Parker Brothers the same year, thinking that more people would now get to learn about economic inequality. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN, "Yes, there's a socialism-themed Monopoly game. It packs a message tailored for capitalists," 23 Aug. 2019 The transaction will place Pfizer’s previously bestselling drugs such as Viagra, which came up against stiff competition from generic versions when its patent expired, in a new company alongside Mylan’s products. — The Economist, "Business this week," 3 Aug. 2019 By reformulating the drug, Purdue was able to extend its patent until 2030. — NBC News, "Revamped OxyContin was supposed to reduce abuse, but has it?," 22 July 2019 By reformulating the drug, Purdue was able to extend its patent until 2030. — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, "OxyContin Was Reformulated to Reduce Abuse, but Purdue Pharma Won’t Share Data of the Results," 22 July 2019 Qualcomm had angered its customers, including Apple and Samsung, who say the company hiked licensing fees for its chip patents, driving up smartphone prices. — Gregory Barber, WIRED, "While Washington Talks Antitrust, Europe Takes Action," 18 July 2019 Gilead was sued in May in federal court in San Francisco by consumers who claimed that the company conspired with other drug makers to stymie competition in generic medicines, even after its patents expire. — Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, "Watertown biotech Lyndra teams up with Gilead in $15m deal to treat HIV," 9 July 2019 The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Huawei is asking Verizon to pay licensing fees for more than 200 of its patents. — Time, "Huawei Founder Says Revenue Will Be Billions Below Forecast," 17 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This new version was patented with protection on the product extending to 2029. — CNN, "Big Pharma is abusing patents, and it's hurting Americans," 12 Sep. 2019 The company’s robotics technology, which hadn’t been patented at the time of the theft, may one day become critical for battlefield medicine. — Samantha F. Ravich, WSJ, "Where Are the Corporate Patriots?," 28 Nov. 2018 The 4707 has actually been patented by Heinz, the result of years of research and development. — CBS News, "Ketchup, a sweet and sour love story," 1 July 2018 Inventors have patented ways of putting cannabis into milk, coffee pods, ice pops and chewing gum. — Carla K. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "How much pot in that brownie? Chocolate can throw off tests," 27 Aug. 2019 Inventors have patented ways of putting cannabis into milk, coffee pods, ice pops and chewing gum. — Author: Carla K. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, "How much pot in that brownie? Chocolate can throw off tests," 26 Aug. 2019 Inventors have patented ways of putting cannabis into milk, coffee pods, ice pops and chewing gum. — NBC News, "How much pot in that brownie? Chocolate can throw off tests," 26 Aug. 2019 Microsoft Research first documented these prototype controllers back in October, and now Microsoft has even patented the idea. — Tom Warren, The Verge, "Microsoft’s prototype Xbox controllers for phones look ideal for xCloud," 9 July 2019 The company has patented dozens of molecular combinations of the natural silk protein since filing its first application in 2014. — Kim Bhasin, Fortune, "Chanel Invests in Boston Startup Making Sustainable Silk," 11 June 2019

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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Last Updated

12 Sep 2019

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Time Traveler for patent

The first known use of patent was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for patent

patent

noun

Financial Definition of patent

What It Is

A patent is a grant of property rights to an invention. In the United States, this is done through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

How It Works

A patent prevents others from using, making or selling a specific invention within the U.S. Use of the term "patent pending" or "patent applied for" is intended to inform the general public that the inventor has filed a patent application on the item, but these terms do not protect the inventor until a patent is actually granted. Only the inventor of the invention can apply for a patent, although there are exceptions.

There are three types of patents: utility patents, plant patents, and design patents. Anyone who invents or discovers a "new and useful" process, article of manufacture, composition of matter, machine, or improvement upon these things may be eligible for a utility patent. Plant patents are awarded to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces a "distinct and new variety of plant." Design patents generally go to anyone who invents a "new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture." Inventions related to the use of "special nuclear material or atomic energy in an atomic weapon" are not eligible for patents. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will also not patent "laws of nature, physical phenomena, and abstract ideas," nor is a "mere idea or suggestion" eligible. Prior foreign use or existing domestic use of an invention also influence whether an invention is eligible for patent.

To apply for a patent, the inventor must first file either a provisional or non-provisional application for a patent, which includes a description and drawing of the invention. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office then provides the inventor with an application number and official filing date. After 18 months, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office publishes the patent application, and the general public may protest or request access to the entire application file. The application is sent to a patent examiner who specializes in the invention's area of technology, and the examiner evaluates the invention and application for compliance with patent guidelines. The examiner may accept or reject the application, and the applicant may appeal a rejection. If a patent is granted, the manufacturer or seller of the patented article must mark the articles with the patent number.

Why It Matters

Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution allows Congress to enact patent laws. Patent laws were most recently revised on November 29, 1999, with the passage of the American Inventors Protection Act.

Inventors may allow others to manufacture or sell their patented inventions in exchange for money. American law allows inventors to enforce their patents by bringing patent infringement lawsuits in federal court against anyone who uses the patented invention without permission.

Patents expire. In the United States, a utility patent issued on or after June 8, 1995, expires on the later of either 17 years from the grant date or 20 years from the first effective filing date. Design patents expire 14 years from the patent grant date. A patent may also expire if the owner fails to pay required maintenance fees, which may occur if the owner is unable to commercially exploit the invention. Sometimes, a court invalidates patents for various reasons. When a patent expires or is invalidated, the related invention could fall into the public domain and may be used or exploited without the inventor's permission.

Source: Investing Answers

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

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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

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