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

Prince Charles will visit Southend later to present a letters patent to grant the town city status.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2022

On 5 June 1925 King George V visited Stoke-on-Trent gave it the status of city by royal letters patent, she said.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2019

As the week drew to a close, His Majesty's Lord Chamberlain and the Home Secretary busied themselves preparing letters patent proclaiming Philip a Duke and a Royal Highness.

From Time Magazine Archive

On August 13, 1878, I obtained letters patent for the exclusive right to use exsiccated ammonia alum in baking powders.

From Scientific American, Vol. XXXIX.?No. 24. [New Series.], December 14, 1878 A Weekly Journal Of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, And Manufactures by Various