letters patent

American  

plural noun

Law.

1. a written or printed instrument issued by a sovereign power, conferring upon a patentee some right, as the exclusive right to land or the exclusive right to make, use, and sell an invention for a limited time.

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letters patent British  

plural noun

1. See patent

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Etymology

Origin of letters patent

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

letters patent

On Wednesday, the parchment letters patent were presented to the mayor Tim Young.

From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2022

She presented the letters patent to the mayor which marked the moment the town became the 76th city of the UK.

From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2022

Upon the issue of the letters patent, an open document from the Queen conferring a patent or other right, Southend will become the 52nd city in England and the second in Essex, alongside Chelmsford.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2022

Loudly the Clerk read the new peer's letters patent from George V, creating Prince George "Duke of Kent, Earl of St. Andrews and Baron Downpatrick."

From Time Magazine Archive

In February 1810, Napoleon determined to purchase it, and on March 10th instructed his secretary of state, Maret, to confer the Duchy of Navarre, purchased by letters patent, on Josephine and her heirs male.

From Napoleon's Letters to Josephine by Henry Foljambe Hall