Patent

Quick meaning: Patent is a noun meaning An official document granting an appointment, privilege, or right, or some property or title; letters patent.

Meaning

An official document granting an appointment, privilege, or right, or some property or title; letters patent.

More Meanings

1. A grant of a monopoly over the manufacture, sale, and use of goods.
2. A specific grant of ownership of a piece of real property; a land patent.
3. (by extension) A product in respect of which a patent (sense 1.2.2) has been obtained.
4. (uncountable) Ellipsis of patent leather (“a varnished, high-gloss leather typically used for accessories and shoes”).
5. A licence or (formal) permission to do something.
6. A characteristic or quality that one possesses; in particular (hyperbolic) as if exclusively; a monopoly.
7. A declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period.

Example Sentences

[…] Squib proved clearly by his patent that the house and office did now belong to him.

If you be ſo fond ouer her iniquity, giue her patent to offend, for if it touches not you, it comes neere no body.

To his great credit, Manson refused to patent his invention, as he desired to remove any obstacle to its adoption by other companies.

Philip of Spain had offered a reward of 25,000 crowns, a patent of nobility, and immunity for all past crimes, to the assassinator of the Prince of Orange.

Word Forms

• patents
• patenting
• patented

Synonyms for patent

Depending on context, synonyms include overt, express, monosemous, unambiguous, clear, direct.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include apparent, manifest, obvious, evident, plain, patentee.

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