patently
Britishadverb
Explanation
Use the adverb patently when you want to emphasize something as clearly obvious. For example, you might say "It's patently clear that you hate spinach." It might be patently obvious to you that your roommate forgot to take out the trash, or patently absurd that your brother thinks he will have a long, successful career as a street magician and fire juggler. Either way, the word patently serves to emphasize how apparent or clear your observation is. The Latin root of patently makes its meaning patently clear: patere means "lie open" or "be open."
Vocabulary lists containing patently
Revolution in Our Time
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Life of Pi
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Nectar in a Sieve
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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.
"Unfortunately, the tragedy Patrick has experienced has been compounded by patently false, defamatory and injurious public statements."
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
In an online tribute, Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan wrote: “Finally, the dang secret is out! Their place among the greats secure, their influence on the generations patently obvious.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
At least six lower courts ruled against it, with judges of varying ideologies calling it patently illegal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
Both propositions are patently false, but it doesn’t matter.
From Slate ● Dec. 8, 2025
He knew, even as he uttered those words, that they were patently false.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
