word
Legal
Patent
PAT-ent
/ˈpeɪtənt/Listen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
PATent
Dictionary meaning
A government-granted exclusive right that allows an inventor to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing a claimed invention for a limited period, typically 20 years from the filing date.
Examples
- The company filed a patent for its new drug delivery mechanism.
- His patent on the compression algorithm expires next year.
In British English often pronounced PAT-ent; in American English PAY-tent is standard.
Synonyms: letters patent, patent grant
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