English Reference
Adverb

patently

adv.
C1 Advanced US /ˈpætəntɫi/ UK /pˈeɪtəntli/ patent·ly Botany

adv.in a way that is very obvious or easy to see. You use this when something is so clear that you do not need to explain it further.

adv.in a manner that is clearly evident or obvious to the senses. Often used to describe a quality that is self-evident or a situation that is manifestly true.


SIMPLE

The mistake was patently obvious to everyone in the room.

CONTEXTUAL

The plant's leaves were patently wilted, showing that it had not been watered for several days.

COMPLEX

The evidence was patently clear to the jury, leaving no room for doubt regarding the defendant's intent or the sequence of events.

That is patently not true of the actor who plays him.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

DM Thomas, Booker nominated in 1981 for The White Hotel, is “patently untalented”.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026

From patent + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated