patents
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pluralof patent.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
patentnounthe exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years. -
present tense formof patent (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
patentnounthe 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.
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
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