Patent — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈpa-tᵊnt/ pat·ent

Meaning & Definition of Patent

Patent (adjective)

  1. open to public inspection —used chiefly in the phrase letters patent
  2. secured by letters patent or by a patent to the exclusive control and possession of a particular individual or party
  3. protected by a patent, made under a patent

Patent (noun)

  1. an official document conferring a right or privilege, letters patent
  2. a writing securing for a term of years the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention
  3. the monopoly or right so granted

Patent (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

Patent (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in copyright

    similar: copyright, brand, trademark, brand name, trade name, collective mark, emblem, hallmark, imprint, label, logo, mark, service mark, stamp

  2. as in grant, charter

    similar: charter, grant, perquisite, prerogative, exemption, immunity, waiver, birthright, claim, entitlement, right, courtesy, appanage, boon, concession, honor, privilege
    opposite: burden, duty, obligation, responsibility

Patent (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation

    "unfortunately, the patent stupidity of the proposal did not deter the city council from putting it up for a vote"

    similar: apparent, bald, bald-faced, barefaced, bright-line, broad, clear, clear-cut, crystal clear, decided, distinct, evident, lucid, luculent, luminous, manifest, nonambiguous, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, ringing, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unambivalent, unequivocal, unmistakable
    related: cognizable, cognoscible, comprehendible, comprehensible, digestible, fathomable, graspable, intelligible, knowable, understandable, self-evident, self-explanatory, clean-cut, simple, tidy, uncomplicated, overt, undisguised, appreciable, perceptible, recognizable, sensible, tangible, discernible, noticeable, observable, visible, black-and-white, explicit, trenchant, well-defined, clean, decipherable, fair, legible, readable
    opposite: ambiguous, clouded, cryptic, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, indistinct, mysterious, nonobvious, obfuscated, obscure, unapparent, unclarified, unclear
    near: incomprehensible, indecipherable, unfathomable, unintelligible, unknowable, impalpable, imperceptible, inappreciable, indiscernible, insensible, cloudy, gauzy, gray, hazy, imprecise, indefinite, indeterminate, misty, murky, nebulous, noncommittal, sketchy, slippery, subtle, vague, illegible, undecipherable, unreadable

  2. very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad

    "a patent error that should have been caught before the book was published"

    similar: blatant, conspicuous, egregious, flagrant, glaring, gross, obvious, pronounced, rank, striking
    related: arresting, clear, distinct, dramatic, emphatic, evident, eye-catching, marked, notable, noticeable, outstanding, plain, prominent, remarkable, salient, showy, splashy, absolute, arrant, downright, out-and-out, outright, sheer, stark, utter, detectable, discernible, observable, perceptible, visible, abominable, atrocious, awful, deplorable, execrable, heinous, lousy, monstrous, outrageous, preposterous, shameful, shocking, terrible, wretched
    near: imperceptible, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, slight, small, trifling, trivial, concealed, hidden, invisible

Related Entry: Patent leather (noun)

Patent leather is a different word from Patent. The synonyms below are for patent leather, not for patent.

  1. as in suede, nubuck

    similar: nubuck, suede, alligator, antelope, buckskin, cabretta, calfskin, capeskin, chamois, cordovan, cowhide, crocodile, deerskin, doeskin, goatskin, horsehide, kid, kidskin, lambskin, morocco, ostrich, pigskin, seal, sharkskin, sheepskin, snakeskin, coat, fleece, fur, pelt, hide, leather, skin

Related Entry: Patent leathers (noun)

Patent leathers is a different word from Patent. The synonyms below are for patent leathers, not for patent.

  1. as in suedes, nubucks

    similar: nubucks, suedes, alligators, antelope, buckskins, cabrettas, calfskins, capeskins, chamois, cordovans, cowhides, crocodiles, deerskins, doeskins, goatskins, horsehides, kids, kidskins, lambskins, moroccos, ostriches, pigskins, seals, sharkskins, sheepskins, snakeskins, coats, fleeces, furs, pelts, hides, leathers, skins

Related Entry: Patent medicine (noun)

Patent medicine is a different word from Patent. The synonyms below are for patent medicine, not for patent.

  1. as in prescription, prescription drug

    similar: botanical, prescription, prescription drug, cure-all, nostrum, panacea, cordial, potion, tonic, cure, drug, medicament, medication, medicinal, medicine, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific, miracle drug, wonder drug, cap, capsule, pill, tablet, injection, shot, embrocation, liniment, lotion, ointment, poultice, salve, syrup, tincture, antibiotic, antiseptic, serum

Related Entry: Patent medicines (noun)

Patent medicines is a different word from Patent. The synonyms below are for patent medicines, not for patent.

  1. as in prescriptions, prescription drugs

    similar: botanicals, prescription drugs, prescriptions, cure-alls, nostrums, panaceas, cordials, potions, tonics, cures, drugs, medicaments, medications, medicinals, medicines, pharmaceuticals, physics, remedies, specifics, miracle drugs, wonder drugs, caps, capsules, pills, tablets, injections, shots, embrocations, liniments, lotions, ointments, poultices, salves, syrups, tinctures, antibiotics, antiseptics, sera

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Patent

The most common words with a similar meaning to Patent:

copyright, brand, trademark, brand name, trade name, collective mark, emblem, hallmark, imprint, label, logo, mark, service mark, stamp, charter, grant, perquisite, prerogative, exemption, immunity, waiver, birthright, claim, entitlement, right, courtesy, appanage, boon, concession, honor, privilege, apparent, bald, bald-faced, barefaced, bright-line, broad, clear, clear-cut, crystal clear

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Patent

Words with the opposite meaning of Patent:

burden, duty, obligation, responsibility, ambiguous, clouded, cryptic, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, indistinct, mysterious, nonobvious, obfuscated, obscure, unapparent, unclarified, unclear

Related Words for Patent

cognizable, cognoscible, comprehendible, comprehensible, digestible, fathomable, graspable, intelligible, knowable, understandable, self-evident, self-explanatory, clean-cut, simple, tidy, uncomplicated, overt, undisguised, appreciable, perceptible, recognizable, sensible, tangible, discernible, noticeable, observable, visible, black-and-white, explicit, trenchant

Near Antonyms of Patent

incomprehensible, indecipherable, unfathomable, unintelligible, unknowable, impalpable, imperceptible, inappreciable, indiscernible, insensible, cloudy, gauzy, gray, hazy, imprecise, indefinite, indeterminate, misty, murky, nebulous, noncommittal, sketchy, slippery, subtle, vague, illegible, undecipherable, unreadable, inconspicuous, unnoticeable

Word Forms of Patent

Inflections: patented, patenting, patents

Derived words: patently (adverb), patentability (noun), patentable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Patent

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin patent-, patens, from present participle of patēre to be open fathom

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Patent

Words & Phrases Containing Patent

patent flour, patent leather, patent medicine, patent office, patent right, letters patent, take out a patent on

Frequently Asked Questions about Patent

What does "Patent" mean?

"Patent" means open to public inspection —used chiefly in the phrase letters patent. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: open to public inspection —used chiefly in the phrase letters patent. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Patent"?

Other words for "Patent" include copyright, brand, trademark, brand name, trade name, collective mark, emblem and hallmark. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Patent" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Patent"?

There are 141 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Patent". Common alternatives include copyright, brand, trademark, brand name, trade name, collective mark, emblem, hallmark, imprint and label.

What is the opposite of "Patent"?

Antonyms of "Patent" include burden, duty, obligation, responsibility, ambiguous, clouded, cryptic and dark. Near antonyms include incomprehensible, indecipherable, unfathomable and unintelligible.

How do you use "Patent" in a sentence?

Examples of "Patent" in a sentence: "unfortunately, the patent stupidity of the proposal did not deter the city council from putting it up for a vote"; "a patent error that should have been caught before the book was published".

Is "Patent" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Patent" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Patent" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Patent" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Patent"?

"Patent" is pronounced /ˈpa-tᵊnt/ and divided into syllables as pat·ent.