English Reference
adjective

patented

adj.
US /ˈpætəntɪd/ UK /pˈeɪtəntɪd/ patent·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    protected by a legal document so that only one person or company has the right to make or sell it.

    protected by a patent, granting the inventor exclusive rights to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a set period.

    Simple

    The company uses a patented technology to make their phone screens stronger.

    In context

    The pharmaceutical firm holds a patented formula for the drug, preventing competitors from producing a generic version for the next decade.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated