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patents

  • plural
    of patent.
    patent
    noun
    the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.
  • present tense form
    of patent (3rd person singular).
    patent
    noun
    the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The researchers have applied for patents covering the technology in several countries, and two patents have already been authorized.

From Science Daily Aug. 11, 2026

Svensson and Coassolo are inventors on patents regarding BRP peptides for metabolic disorders.

From Science Daily Jul. 24, 2026

The Basel-based group is facing the expiry of patents for a number of its drugs, including Entresto, a flagship treatment for heart failure.

From Barron's Jul. 21, 2026

China’s battery titans, including CATL, control vital patents on technologies such as sodium-ion battery chemistry, considered by many the next generation in onboard energy storage.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 11, 2026

One survey found that 53 percent of laboratories had stopped offering or developing at least one genetic test because of patent enforcement, and 67 percentfelt patents interfered with medical research.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot