patent
An official document granting an appointment, privilege, or right, or some property or title; letters patent.
Noun 4 meanings
An official document granting an appointment, privilege, or right, or some property or title; letters patent.
A grant of a monopoly over the manufacture, sale, and use of goods.
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.
A product in respect of which a patent (sense 1.2.2) has been obtained.
Verb 2 meanings
To (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period.
To be closely associated or identified with (something); to monopolize.
Adjective 4 meanings
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Explicit and obvious.
“Those claims are patent nonsense.”
Of a branch, leaf, etc.: outspread; also, spreading at right angles to the axis.
Protected by a legal patent.
“a patent right patent medicines”
Etymology
The noun is derived from Middle English patent (“document granting an office, property, right, title, etc.
Similar and opposite words
PATENT at a glance
PATENT has 6 letters and scores 8 points in Scrabble (P 3 + A 1 + T 1 + E 1 + N 1 + T 1) and 10 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,253 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with patent
All rhymesOne letter away
- PARENT8
- POTENT8
- LATENT6
- PATENS8
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