prior art

noun

Definition of prior art

patent law

: knowledge that is publicly available (as from the description in an already existing patent, from publications, or from public use or sale) before the date of filing a claim for a patent for an invention a finding by the judge that there was no advancement of design in the new invention over the prior art

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More About prior art

Dictionary Entries Near prior art

prioral

prior art

priorate

Statistics for prior art

Cite this Entry

“Prior art.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20art. Accessed 27 Sep. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for prior art

prior art

noun

Legal Definition of prior art

: the processes, devices, and modes of achieving the end of an alleged invention that were known or knowable by due diligence before and at the date of the invention also : the knowledge or description of such processes, devices, or modes —used chiefly in patent law