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Meaning & use

patented

adjective, verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈpeɪtntɪd/
US/ˈpætṇt̬ɪd/

“patented” is a form of “patent”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nounlegal

    Protected by a patent, so that only the owner may make or sell the invention.

    Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a patented design.

    Patterns

    • a patented something

    The company sells a patented lock that cannot be picked.

    Their patented process makes the glass much stronger.

    He was proud of his patented invention.

  2. verbtransitivelegal

    Past tense and past participle of patent: having officially registered an invention so that others cannot copy it.

    Grammar: Takes an object: she patented her design.

    Patterns

    • patented something
    • something was patented in 1990

    The engineer patented the device in 2019.

    Who patented the first telephone?

    The recipe was patented before the product went on sale.

Word forms

base formpatent
third person singularpatents
-ing formpatenting

Common combinations

patented technology
The patented technology gave them a market advantage.
patented design
Their patented design is used in many phones.
patented formula
The drink is made with a patented formula.
patented invention
His patented invention earned him a fortune.
patented in
The machine was patented in 1884.
patented method
A patented method keeps the fruit fresh for weeks.

Synonyms and how they differ

proprietary
Proprietary is broader and means owned by a company, while patented means a legal patent exists.
copyrighted
Copyrighted applies to creative works like books and songs, whereas patented applies to inventions.
trademarked
Trademarked refers to names and logos, not the invention itself.
registered
Registered is a general term for something officially recorded, without implying it is an invention.

Opposites

unpatentedpublic domain

Word family

patent noun
an official right to be the only maker or seller of an invention
patent verb
to obtain such a right
patentable adjective
able to be patented
patentee noun
the person who holds a patent

Commonly confused: patented or patient?

patented vs patient

Patient is a person receiving medical care or a calm, tolerant attitude, and is unrelated to inventions.

Practice

The firm refused to share the recipe because it was a ______ formula.

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