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

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

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

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

On the 25th March, 1584, Raleigh obtained letters patent from Queen Elizabeth authorising him to establish a colony in North America, south of Newfoundland.

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 110, December 6, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various