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

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

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

In 1635, letters patent were granted by the King, and the Acad�mie Fran�aise came into being.

From Time Magazine Archive

The fifth descendant from this warrior-noble, Charles Hyacinthe Hugo, obtained new letters patent; and his grandson, Joseph Leopold Sigisbert, was the father of the poet.

From Victor Hugo: His Life and Works by Smith, G. Barnett