noun
Common
patent
PAY-tuhnt
Patent (noun) means an official government grant giving an inventor sole rights to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period. Example: “He spent years waiting for the patent on his invention to be approved.”
noun
1
An official government grant giving an inventor sole rights to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period.
"He spent years waiting for the patent on his invention to be approved."
"No one else may copy the gadget while the patent is still valid."
"She filed a patent for her new design."
verb
1
To obtain a patent for an invention.
"She patented her kitchen gadget so nobody else could sell copies of it."
"Engineers at the firm have patented a quieter type of fan."
"The company patented the technology before releasing it to market."
adj
1
Obvious or clear to see; completely evident.
"Her delight at the news was patent to everyone in the room."
"It was a patent lie, and nobody believed a word of it."
"It was patent from his expression that he disagreed."
How to use patent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the legal right to an invention, or (as an adjective) something completely obvious.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the legal-right sense with the "obvious" adjective sense — they share a root but are used very differently.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
file a patent
patent pending
patently obvious
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- patents
- Past tense
- patented
- Comparative
- more patent
- Superlative
- most patent
Fill the gap
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He spent years waiting for the _____ on his invention to be approved.
Etymology
From Middle English "letters patent," open documents granting a right or privilege, ultimately from Latin patens, "lying open."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for patent
See all rhymes for patent →Frequently asked questions
What does “patent” mean?
The word “patent” means an official government grant giving an inventor sole rights to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period. In plain terms, either the legal right to an invention, or (as an adjective) something completely obvious.
How do you pronounce “patent”?
“Patent” is pronounced PAY-tuhnt (/ˈpætənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “patent” in a sentence?
Here is “patent” used in a sentence: “She filed a patent for her new design.”
What part of speech is “patent”?
Depending on how it is used, “patent” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “patent” come from?
The word “patent” comes from Latin. From Middle English "letters patent," open documents granting a right or privilege, ultimately from Latin patens, "lying open.".
Is “patent” a common word?
“Patent” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “patent” have?
“Patent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official government grant giving an inventor sole rights to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period.
What is the difference between a "patent" and a "trademark"?
A "patent" is a government grant giving an inventor sole rights to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period, while a "trademark" protects a name, logo, or symbol that identifies a brand. A patent covers how something works; a trademark covers how a product is identified.
What is the difference between a "patent" and a "copyright"?
A "patent" protects inventions and the way things work, while "copyright" protects original creative works such as writing, music, and art. Patents must be applied for and granted, whereas copyright usually arises automatically when a work is created.
What is the difference between "patent" as a noun and "patent" as an adjective?
As a noun or verb, "patent" concerns the legal right to an invention. As an adjective, "patent" can mean obvious or plainly clear, as in "a patent lie," and it also describes "patent leather," a glossy coated leather.
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